Just before leaving for a two-week Easter/Passover recess the House took a necessary next step towards a reconciliation package that will allow the President’s legislative agenda to move forward by approving the Senate passed amended version of the budget resolution. Reconciliation is a legislative process that allows items addressed in the budget resolution to be approved in the Senate by a majority vote thereby bypassing a Senate filibuster.
The price of construction materials increased 0.5% in March, while nonresidential input prices climbed 0.6%, both unusually steep jumps, according to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data as reported by Construction Dive. Both overall and nonresidential input prices are now 0.8% higher than a year ago and sit more than 40% higher compared to February 2020, largely due to a sharp rise in natural gas, steel, copper and lumber prices. The price escalations across the board reflect early impacts from tariffs and mark the third straight month of price jumps, said Anirban Basu, ABC chief economist. “Construction input prices increased at a rapid pace for the third consecutive month in March and have now risen at a 9.7% annualized rate through the first quarter of 2025,” said Basu.
The Agriculture Department is planning to dismantle its presence in Washington, D.C., according to several officials briefed on the plans, and will relocate those it does not lay off to three hubs around the country, reports Government Executive publication.
Legislation to repeal a World War 1-era tax on new heavy-duty trucks, tractors and trailers was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, Transportation Topics reports. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has renewed an effort to repeal this 12% federal excise tax on certain commercial vehicles. The Modern, Clean and Safe Trucks Act, was reintroduced on March 27 following unsuccessful attempts to get the legislation passed during recent sessions of Congress.
Agriculture Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the appointment of Audrey Bettencourt to lead the department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Bettencourt is a third-generation California farmer and most recently served as the Global Director of Government Relations and External Affairs at Netafim, an international company specializing in irrigation technology. Among other positions, Bettencourt previously served as President and CEO of the Almond Alliance of California, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior during the first Trump Administration, California State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency, and Executive Director of the California Water Alliance.
President Trump has rescinded an executive order issued in 2021 by then President Biden increasing the minimum wage for employees of federal contractors. EO 14026 sharply increased the minimum wage rate in effect for federal contractors from $13.30 to $17.75 per hour and set annual adjustments to account for inflation.
This was one of numerous EOs revoked by Trump in a second wave of reversals of Biden executive actions. EO 14026 and the Department of Labor (DOL) rule implementing the EO have faced several legal challenges. Most recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the EO concluding it was a valid exercise of presidential authority. However an earlier decision in Ninth Circuit held Biden exceeded his authority when he issued the EO. Supreme Court action on these split decisions is likely.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy testified April 2 before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, to present the Trump administration’s approach to reauthorization of the Surface Transportation legislation set to expire on September 30, 2026. Duffy did not offer much detail but emphasized the need for innovation and efforts to expedite project delivery.
The National Governor’s Association (NGA) report in their 2025 State of the State or Territory addresses that Governors showcased both infrastructure success stories in their jurisdictions and set out legislative and other priorities for the year ahead for different types of infrastructure. Common themes emerging from the remarks include the importance of infrastructure investment in supporting long-term economic growth, sustainability and quality of life for future generations.
The American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) has been grading the condition of America’s infrastructure since 1998 with most report cards showing little headway being made in addressing existing needs. With the significant increase in Federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act many looked to see if it helped lift the condition of the various infrastructure categories. According to ASCE’s most recent report, the Biden-era infusion of federal funding helped improve the condition of the country’s infrastructure, bringing it up from a “C-” to a “C” grade. It shows grade increases in eight of the 18 categories assessed, many of which had long been stuck at a “D-” or “D.”
President Trump signed a continuing resolution funding the government through Sept. 30, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. The crucial vote came in the Senate when 10 Democrats join with Republicans in approving the measure as sent over from the House. While most programs will be funded at FY 2024 levels, the legislation calls for cuts of $15 billion from current funding levels for discretionary non-Defense programs and increases defense spending by about $6 billion over current budgets — including billions for deportations, veterans’ health care and the military. Highway program levels were approved at the amount authorized for FY 2025 increasing funding by $1.2 billion over FY 24.