Global Politics and International Affairs

President Donald Trump’s recent executive order is a major win for the merit shop construction industry. The order rescinds 19 burdensome Biden-era directives, including those mandating project labor agreements (PLAs), government-registered apprenticeships, and inflated minimum wages on federal contracts.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) applauded the move, calling it a course correction that restores free-market principles. ABC’s Ben Brubeck noted that Biden’s PLA policies alone raised project costs by up to 20%, restricted 9 out of 10 workers from fair participation, and fueled labor shortages.

The order also eliminates Biden’s push for apprenticeship mandates that favored union shops and failed to reflect real workforce demand. ABC, already offering 450+ training programs, warned these policies would worsen red tape and deter contractor participation.

In tandem, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is revising the Waters of the U.S. rule to align with the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, further trimming regulatory overreach. ABC supports these actions, which prioritize clarity, competition, and commonsense governance in America’s construction economy.