Construction trade group leaders look forward to new leadership under Trump
Leaders from two of the nation’s top construction trade groups are hopeful for a new era under the Trump administration, anticipating a reduction in regulations and policies that they believe have hindered growth in their industry during the Biden administration.
Ben Brubeck, vice president of regulatory affairs for the Associated Builders and Contractors, expressed disappointment on behalf of his organization’s members regarding the limited opportunities presented by various Biden administration initiatives, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IJA), the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Despite the Biden administration’s announcement of 1.6 million new construction and manufacturing jobs, Brubeck emphasized that the potential for growth could be much greater with a more favorable economic and policy environment.
According to Brubeck, the slow disbursement of funds from these programs has been attributed to burdensome regulations, particularly regarding permitting requirements. Additionally, labor policies such as project labor agreements and increased borrowing costs have further impeded the industry’s growth potential under President Biden.
Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and workforce for the Associated General Contractors of America, echoed Brubeck’s concerns, citing regulatory obstacles and lengthy review processes as barriers to the success of Biden’s construction investments. Turmail criticized the administration for imposing excessive social and environmental regulations on top of funding, which he believes have hampered progress in the sector, particularly in semiconductor plant construction.
Looking ahead, both Turmail and Brubeck are optimistic about the potential for growth in the construction industry under the Trump administration. They anticipate that companies will navigate through existing federal requirements established under Biden while potentially benefiting from a rollback of certain regulations. Turmail highlighted the expected uptick in infrastructure construction once projects clear environmental hurdles and begin construction, signaling a positive outlook for the industry.
As the construction sector eagerly anticipates regulatory relief under the new administration, federal contractors stand ready to engage in large-scale projects that have been on hold since the beginning of the year. The prospect of a more favorable regulatory landscape under the Trump administration has generated enthusiasm among industry stakeholders, who see a promising future for construction and infrastructure development.
While the White House did not provide a comment for publication, industry leaders remain hopeful that the new administration will usher in a period of growth and opportunity for the construction industry.
