Archives: News Items

As part of its ongoing commitment to protecting your livelihood and setting the stage for a bright future, MCAA has secured the services of Longbow Public Policy Group to advise our MCAA Government Affairs Committee (GAC). GAC Chair, Jim Gaffney will be passing along information relative to our industry on a regular basis.

On Monday, April 7, 2025 MCAA Lobbying Firm, Longbow Public Policy Group provided the following information:

Trump Administration

President Trump Imposes 10% Universal Tariff and Higher Rates for Nations Based on their Trade Imbalances with the U.S.

Last week ended with the stock market collapsing as MCAA (and everyone else in Washington) was busy comprehending the President’s across-the-board 10% tariffs on almost all imported goods and country-specific reciprocal tariffs for almost every nation on earth. Notably, Canada and Mexico are not covered by the new 10% global tariff or the new reciprocal tariffs but continue to face the tariff regime President Trump previously imposed on our North American neighbors. The President also exempted certain products from his new global and reciprocal tariffs, including: (1) energy and other minerals that are not available in the United States; (2) steel and aluminum articles (which are already tariffed by previous Presidential actions); (3) automobiles and auto parts already subject the recent Section 232 tariffs; (4) copper; (5) pharmaceuticals; (6) semiconductors; (7) lumber articles; (8) all articles that may become subject to future Section 232 tariffs; and (9) bullion.

Additionally, last Wednesday, April 2^nd, President Trump’s previously-announced 25% secondary tariff on any nation that buys oil and gas from Venezuela took effect. The President justified this action as a response to Venezuela sending “tens of thousands of high level, and other criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature” to the U.S.—clearly referring to members of the Tren de Aragua gang that the Administration has designated as a foreign terrorist organization. 

Moreover, President Trump’s previously announced 25% auto tariffs took effect as scheduled last Thursday, April 3, 2025 and duties on automotive part imports will begin on May 3^rd. Even the beer we’ll be drinking as we watch the Final Four this weekend was hit with new tariffs last week along with the aluminum beer cans in which it comes. The Trump Administration also ended the de minimis exemption from tariffs on goods from China and Hong Kong valued at less than $800.

As noted above, shortly after the President’s press conference last Wednesday announcing the tariffs, the Senate voted 51-48 to pass a resolution against President Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian imports based on an emergency related to the amount of fentanyl crossing the Canadian border. Four Republicans—Sens. Mitch McConnell (KY), Rand Paul (KY), Susan Collins (ME), and Lisa Murkowski (AK)—joined with Democrats in support of the resolution. The resolution faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House after GOP leadership included provisions in the rule to consider the continuing resolution funding the government language stripping the Senate passed revolution of privileged status and leaving it to the discretion of GOP House leaders whether to bring it up this Congress. Following the vote, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said it was “likely” that Democrats would take aim at the President’s new, more sweeping tariffs announced last week but that a vote will not occur until after the Senate’s two-week Easter recess. Separately, Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced legislation requiring the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of the imposition of any tariffs and for Congress to explicitly approve any new tariffs within 60 days. The bill would also allow Congress to end any tariff at any time.

Over the last two weeks, the Administration pushed back on criticism of its tariff policies with a March 26^th fact sheet on “The Staggering Cost of the Illicit Opioid Epidemic in the United States,” justifying President Trump’s tariff plans by asserting that in 2023 fentanyl and other illicit opioids “which typically originate in China and are trafficked through Mexico” cost Americans an estimated $2.7 trillion and “dwarfs even pessimistic estimates of the effects of tariffs, like that of Goldman Sachs, who estimated losses of 0.4 percent of GDP.” More recently, after last Wednesday’s tariffs, the White House issued a fact sheet and a document with statements supporting the latest tariffs that includes a quote from NECA President David Long.

Possible USTR Action that May Impede Supply Chains

In addition to tariffs, the MCAA policy team has been busy with another threat to supply chains. We monitored hearings held by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on March 24^th and 26^th to hear feedback on its proposal to establish new fees on vessels that enter U.S. ports. As proposed, the fees would apply to an estimated 98% of the global commercial shipping fleet because the fees apply to both existing Chinese-built vessels or future vessels in the order books of carriers, and any carrier with at least one order on the books for a vessel made in China. The fees are intended to counter China’s rise as a maritime power and to bolster U.S. shipping. It is estimated the new fees would double the cost of shipping goods to the U.S. 

During the hearings, about 300 companies, trade groups, and individuals submitted comments or spoke in opposition to USTR’s proposal. Opponents of the proposal pointed to a study from the economic analysis firm Trade Partnership Worldwide concluding that USTR’s proposed remedies would have a net negative impact on the U.S. economy, could send exports of oil down as much as 18.6%, and exports of coal down as much as 24.5%. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents 22,000 dockworkers on the West Coast, said it supports the rebuilding of the domestic shipbuilding industry while addressing Chinese dominance over the maritime sector but urged USTR to ensure U.S.-bound cargo is not diverted because of these efforts. 

DOE Identifies 16 Sites Across the Country for Data Center and AI Infrastructure Development

On a more positive note, last Thursday, the U.S. Energy Department (DOE) announced plans to co-locate data centers and install new energy infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI) on 16 DOE-owned lands. In a related request for information (RFI), DOE seeks public feedback to “assess industry interest in developing, operating, and maintaining AI infrastructure on select DOE-owned or managed lands, along with information on potential development approaches, technology solutions, operational models, and economic considerations associated with establishing AI infrastructure on DOE sites. In addition, this RFI seeks input from grid operators that serve DOE sites on opportunities and challenges associated with existing energy infrastructure and potential co-location of data centers with new energy generation. The 16 proposed sites are: (1) the Idaho National Laboratory; (2) the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant; (3) the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant; (4) the Argonne National Laboratory; (5) the Brookhaven National Laboratory; (6) the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory; (7) the National Energy Technology Laboratory; (8) the National Renewable Energy Laboratory; (9) the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; (10) the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; (11) the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory; (12) the Los Alamos National Laboratory; (13) the Sandia National Laboratories; (14) the Savannah River Site; (15) the Pantex Plant; and (16) the Kansas City National Security Campus. DOE’s goal is to commence operations at selected sites by the end of 2027. Comments on the RFI can be submitted by email to aiinfrastructure@hq.doe.gov and are due 30 days after the RFI publishes in the Federal Register this week. MCAA is getting more information about this effort because it could result in work for our contractors.

Notable Trump Nominations 

Last Tuesday, President Trump nominated Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) acting General Counsel Andrew Rogers as head of the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division. Trump also nominated attorney Jonathan Berry as Labor Department Solicitor. Rogers previously worked at the Wage and Hour Division during the first Trump Administration and later moved to the EEOC, where he was former chief counsel to Republican commissioner and now acting EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas. Berry is a former chief counsel to Trump and was principal deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Labor Department during the president’s first term, a role that put him in charge of crafting and approving agency regulations. On March 31^st, President Trump nominated Morgan Lewis Attorney Crystal Carey to be the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) General Counsel. Carey has worked at Morgan, Lewis, and Bockius LLP for the last eight years and counseled clients in a variety of industries, including transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, hotel and hospitality, and others. Before that, Carey worked at the NLRB for over eight years, both as an attorney under the general counsel, and then as a senior counsel for the NLRB during the Obama and first Trump Administrations. On March 25^th, President Trump nominated acting Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Andrea Lucas to another five-year term. Lucas was previously confirmed as an EEOC Commissioner in October 2020 during Trump’s first term. So far in President Trump’s second term, Lucas has played a leading role in implementing the President’s executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion at the EEOC.

U.S. Appeals Court Rules President Trump May Remove Independent Agency Heads

On March 28^th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld President Trump’s authority to fire National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Member Gwynne Wilcox without cause in a 2-1 decision. The Court also ruled that Trump has the authority to remove Board Member Cathy Harris from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The decision seems to contradict Supreme Court precedent affirming congressional restrictions on the President’s authority to fire NLRB Commissioners and other heads of independent agencies. Judge Justin Walker, who was appointed by President Trump during his first term, explained the court’s decision in terms reflecting the Administration’s unitary executive argument, stating that “[t]he people elected the president to enforce the nation’s laws, and a stay serves that purpose by allowing the people’s chosen officer to control the executive branch.” The D.C. Circuit ruling amounts to a significant expansion of the President’s power over independent agencies. We expect the case to ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Congress

Closer Than Expected Florida Special Elections Lead President Trump to Withdraw Stefanik Nomination as U.N. Ambassador

In special elections in Florida last Tuesday, Republican Jimmy Patronis defeated Democrat Gay Valimont in Florida’s 1^st Congressional District and Republican Randy Fine defeated Democrat Josh Weil in Florida’s 6^th Congressional District. Despite the Republican wins, the final results marked an overperformance for Democrats, given that Trump won each seat by more than 30 points in November and Fine and Patronis saw a 14- and 15-point victory, respectively. The warning signs about a potential Democratic overperformance came weeks before the votes when the Democratic candidates significantly outraised their Republican opponents and polling showed a tight race in Florida’s 6^th District. Republicans grew so worried about the races that on March 27^th, President Trump pulled Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-NY) nomination to be U.N. Ambassador over concerns that a Democrat could similarly overperform and win a potential special election for her seat and further narrow Republicans’ already slim majority. With the election of Patronis and Fine, Republicans currently hold a 220-213 majority in the House. However, the majority is expected to shrink further once special elections in Democratic-heavy seats in Arizona’s 7^th Congressional District (September 23^rd) and Texas’ 18^th Congressional District (TBD) are held later this year.

House Ed & Workforce Chair Letter to DOL Secretary Chavez-DeRemer 

The MCAA policy team has had some mixed result in its engagement with House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) that are reflected in the letter he sent to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. We are pleased the letter reflects the discussions we had with committee staff about the Chairman requesting withdrawal of the MCAA-opposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed rule on “Heat Injury and Illness in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” and the DOL EBSA’s final rule, “Requirements Related to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act,” that MCAA has been working with NCCMP to have rescinded or materially revised. We are dismayed that the letter requests rescission of MCAA-supported Wage and Hour Division final rules on “Updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Act Regulations” and “Employee or Independent Contractor Classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act.” During the Easter Recess, we will be following up with the Committee on these issues.

MCAA Issues and Interests 

Project Labor Agreements and Davis-Bacon Prevailing Wage

DOJ Launches Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force

As the MCAA policy team continues its outreach to the Trump Administration to lobby in favor of maintaining MCAA-supported, Biden-era rules on PLAs and Davis-Bacon, we learned of a new DOJ task force that may pose a threat to these critical MCAA regulatory wins. On March 27^th, the Department of Justice established the “Anticompetitive Regulations Task Force” to implement President Trump’s executive orders on “unnecessary regulatory burdens” and direct a review of all federal regulations to identify those that “impose undue burdens on small businesses and impede private enterprise and entrepreneurship.” We expect opponents of Davis-Bacon and PLAs are already working to use this forum to go after PLAs and Davis-Bacon and those opposed to the MCAA’s efforts on misclassification are using this forum to advocate for repeal of MCAA-supported Biden-era regulations on Davis-Bacon, PLAs and Independent Contractor Status. The Task Force is led by DOJ’s Antitrust Division—an agency with which MCAA does not usually deal. The Antitrust Division has attorneys, economists, and other staff who will prioritize regulations for removal. We are coordinating with our union and employer allies on a strategy to deal with this task force. 

MCAA Engaging Energy Department Evaluation of “Construction Labor Agreements” DOE’s 17 National Nuclear Labs

Relatedly, the MCAA policy team is engaged on the Department of Energy’s evaluation of PLA language from the facilities maintenance and construction agreements the agency has with its 17 National Nuclear Laboratories. Two weeks ago we learned that DOE planned to remove language on PLAs and raised it with the Trump Administration. After some back and forth we were assured that DOE is now just “initiating a process to assess” the benefits and risks of “removing construction labor agreement provisions from National Laboratory contracts.” DOE formalized this assessment on March 27^thas part of an effort “to ease burdensome permitting rules and regulations” for construction projects at the National Labs. At this point, our early outreach halted any immediate action to rescind PLA provisions in this contract and forced DOE to take a more deliberative approach to evaluating the benefits/risks of the PLA provisions. But it’s clear where DOE wanted to go before we intervened with the Trump Administration. We’re currently coordinating with our allies to present a united front and attempt to convince the Trump Administration of the value of PLAs and get the Administration to press the Energy Secretary to reconsider eliminating PLAs on these contracts. We have already shared with DOE the joint MCAA/UA study from Independent Project Analysis entitled Quantifying the Value of Union Labor in Construction Projects and will see if they really want to conduct meaningful analysis.  

Registered Apprenticeship

President Trump Signs Executive Order Rescinding Biden EO on Apprenticeship

On March 14^th, the Trump Administration signed an Executive Order entitled Additional Rescission of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions that rescinded 18 Biden executive actions. Among them is President Biden’s Executive Order 14119 of March 6, 2024 Scaling and Expanding the Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries and the Federal Government and Promoting Labor-Management Forums. This EO directed federal agencies to encourage pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs through terms of grants, contracts, and financial assistance awards. Issuance of the EO came as a surprise to the policy team and our union and employer partners as we were led to believe throughout the Trump transition and early days of the Administration that apprenticeship was going to be left out of the initial rush of executive orders to begin Trump’s second term. Notably, after we reached out to high level contacts at the Trump DOL, we were informed that they were also caught off-guard and did not get advance notice before this EO issued. This is yet another example of the frenetic approach to governing that has characterized the first months of the Trump Administration and shows how much policy is being crafted in silos at the White House, without the input of relevant cabinet departments. 

DOL Rescinds Biden-Era Directive that Allowed Grantees to Provide Job Training Services to Non-Citizens 

As the MCAA policy team continues outreach to the Trump Labor Department (DOL) on registered apprenticeship issues like opposing the resurrection of concepts included in the Biden-era proposed rule on National Apprenticeship System Enhancements and the potential resurrection of Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Programs from Trump’s first term, we learned that DOL on March 27^th issued “Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 10-23, Change 1” rescinding the Biden-era DOL’s February 2024 TEGL No. 10-23 directing DOL grant recipients providing workforce training and readiness to reduce to the greatest degree possible “unnecessary administrative barriers to serving customers seeking employment and training services.” The Biden-era TEGL allowed DOL grant recipients to train undocumented immigrants. To this end, the now rescinded Biden-era TEGL removed several items from job training applications, including: (1) Social Security Numbers; (2) work authorizations; and (3) Selective Service registrations. The rescinded Biden-era TEGL also directed grantees to aid public workforce system participants in obtaining drivers licenses and other documents that facilitate employment regardless of their status.

Independent Contractors and Misclassification of Workers 

Ed & Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Subcommittee

On March 25^th, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing entitled, “The Future of Wage Laws: Assessing the FLSA’s Effectiveness, Challenges, and Opportunities.” Leading up to the hearing, the MCAA policy team worked with Democrats on the Subcommittee to press our concerns on misclassification but only Subcommittee Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (D-MN) really engaged during the hearing. She focused on the importance of more staff at the Wage and Hour Division to police misclassification and criticized the Trump Administration’s efforts to cut Wage and Hour staff at the Labor Department. Omar also emphasized the need to strengthen the Fair Labor Standards Act to tackle wage theft. However, in a sign of where Republicans plan to go on independent contractor issues, Subcommittee Chair Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) assailed the Biden-era MCAA-supported independent contractor rule, calling it “an unworkable, ABC-style worker classification test…that limits the ability of independent contractors to earn a living.” Mackenzie’s comments reinforced the importance of the policy team’s ongoing outreach to members on both sides of the aisle in Congress to educate them on the prevalence of misclassification in the construction industry and the ways in which misclassification harms honest employers, workers, and taxpayers.

Decarbonization

Working with Sen. Cruz’s Office to Pass CRA on Gas-Fired Water Heaters 

Last week, the MCAA continued its ongoing work with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) to pass a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution rescinding the Biden-era Energy Department’s rule mandating increased energy efficiency standards for natural gas-fired tankless water heaters. As noted in our March 7^th report, the MCAA successfully lobbied the House to pass this legislation on February 27^th by a vote of 221-198. A vote in the Senate was delayed this week after Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) occupied the Senate floor for a 25+ hour speech opposing the Trump agenda, which caused a number of floor priorities to be pushed back by at least a day. In our discussions with Sen. Cruz’s staff, we were informed that leadership assured them that a vote on the CRA would come before the two-week Easter recess and MCAA is continuing to rally support for it.

Relatedly, the Senate last Thursday voted 53-42 to pass a CRA resolution (H.J. Res 24) to nullify the Biden-era rule establishing energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. The House already passed this CRA on March 27^th in a 203-182 vote and the bill is on its way to President Trump for his signature. Also on March 27^th, the House voted 214-193 to pass a separate CRA to undo energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. That resolution is pending in the Senate. 

Energy Department Postpones Effective Dates for Three Home Appliance Rules

Following outreach from the MCAA, the Trump Energy Department on March 24^th announced several actions pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order on “Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation.” First, the Department has indefinitely postponed the effective dates for three home appliance rules: (1) Test Procedures for Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps; (2) Efficiency Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers; and (3) Efficiency Standards for Gas Instantaneous Water Heaters. Additionally, DOE announced the cancellation of conservation standards on dehumidifiers, electric motors, ceiling fans, and external power supplies.

SEC Votes to End Defense of Rules Requiring Disclosure of Climate-Related Risks and GHG Emissions

In another positive development on the decarbonization front, on March 27th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to end its defense of regulations requiring the disclosure of climate-related risks and greenhouse gas emissions by SEC registrants in registration statements and annual reports that were set to go into effect in 2026. Specifically, the rules required companies to disclose their greenhouse-gas emissions, including direct emissions such as burning fuel for a company’s operations. This move was something the MCAA policy team had encouraged during the Trump transition following the November elections given the negative impact these regulations would have on companies in the oil and gas industry. We were assured at that time that the SEC would take this action once the Trump Administration got its team in place and we are pleased to see them follow through here. 

USDA Releases Billions in Previously Obligated Clean Energy Funding

On March 26^th, the Agriculture Department (USDA) announced that it will release nearly $3.4 billion in previously obligated funding under the Empowering Rural America (New ERA) program funding rural energy cooperatives; the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program funding solar, hydropower, geothermal, or biomass projects; and the Rural Energy for All Program (REAP) to help agricultural businesses purchase and install clean energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements. These investments include $3.2 billion for the New ERA Program, $134 million for the PACE Program, and $28 million for REAP. According to USDA, however, rural electric providers and small business recipients will have “to refocus their projects on expanding American energy production while eliminating Biden-era DEIA and climate mandates embedded in previous proposals.” They will also have to “shift away from the Green New Deal and the so-called Inflation Reduction Act and toward practical energy investments that prioritize the needs of rural communities” consistent with President Trump’s January 20, 2025 Executive Order entitled, “Unleashing American Energy.” The USDA Rural Development office is individually contacting awardees about these changes.

DOE Reissues $900 Million Solicitation for Deployment of Small Modular Reactors to Support Electricity Demand Growth

Another piece of good news is that on March 24^th, the Trump Energy Department announced the reissuance of a $900 million solicitation for deployment of small modular reactors to support electricity demand growth. DOE is offering funding to de-risk the deployment of Generation III+ light-water small modular reactors (Gen III+ SMR) through two tiers: (1) the ”First Mover Team Support” will provide up to $800 million to support up to two first mover teams of utility, reactor vendor, constructor, and end-users/off-takers committed to deploying a first plant while facilitating a multi-reactor, Gen III+ SMR orderbook; and (2) the “Fast Follower Deployment Support” will provide $100 million to address key gaps that have hindered the domestic nuclear industry in areas such as design, licensing, supply chain, and site preparation. Applications are due on April 23, 2025 by 5pm ET. As MCAA continues to meet with the new Administration and members of Congress we continue to sense deep, bipartisan support for nuclear energy.

Federal Contracting 

MCAA Joins Joint Letter to House T&I on WIFIA Subcontractor Bill

As part of the MCAA’s efforts to enact the “Water Infrastructure Subcontractor and Taxpayer Protection Act” (H.R. 1285), we coordinated last week with the broader Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) coalition to draft a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to request a markup of this bill. This bill requires prime contractors on federally financed water infrastructure projects to hold surety bonds, ensuring local sponsors and subcontractors are compensated if a contractor defaults before project completion. The letter is expected to go up to the Hill this week and we will keep you updated as the bill makes its way through the legislative process.

President Signs EO Establishing Office to Administer CHIPS Monies Amid Commerce Secretary’s Freeze on Previously Announced CHIPS Act Awards

On March 31^st, President Trump signed an executive order establishing an office within the Commerce Department called the United States Investment Accelerator to facilitate and speed up investments of more than $1 billion in the U.S. and administer federal funds from the CHIPS and Science Act. This new office is intended to encourage companies to make large investments in the U.S., with an eye toward reducing regulations, speeding up permitting, increasing access to national resources, and facilitating collaboration across national laboratories and state governments. The Investment Accelerator will also be responsible for administering the CHIPS Program Office, where President Trump expects it to negotiate “much better CHIPS Act deals than the previous Administration.” 

The Accelerator comes as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick continues to withhold funds from CHIPS Act awards to push companies to substantially expand their U.S. projects, like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. recently did when it announced it will invest another $100 billion in U.S. plants on top of a previous $65 billion pledge. Lutnick’s goal is to generate tens of billions of dollars in additional semiconductor investment commitments without increasing the size of federal grants. The MCAA policy team has been advocating for Commerce to release the funds for CHIPS Act projects on which MCAA members have been engaged and provide certainty to businesses developing these facilities. 

Other Interesting Things Since Our Last Report 

April 3, 2025

• The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) released several documents in connection with the operation of ERISA’s Section 101(f) annual funding notice requirements for multiemployer and single employer pension plans following enactment of section 343 of SECURE 2.0 modifying these notice requirements. Section 101(f) of ERISA generally requires the administrators of defined benefit plans (both multiemployer and single-employer) to furnish an annual funding notice to participants, beneficiaries, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, and certain other persons. EBSA also issued model funding notices for both multiemployer plans and single-employer plans that may be used to satisfy the mandatory disclosure requirements of ERISA section 101(f) as amended by section 343 of SECURE 2.0. Additionally, EBSA has released Field Bulletin 2025-02 providing a Q&A format regarding the methodology for measuring the value of assets, liabilities, and funding level. 

• Federal contractor organizations are warning that President Trump’s executive order requiring agencies to build a centralized payment system for all contracts and grants may lead to higher costs for agencies due to interest charges on late payments to government contractors under the Prompt Payment Act. The interest rate under the law for the first six months of 2025 is 4.625%.  

April 2, 2025

• The Trump Energy Department (DOE) announced the rescission of a Biden-era April 2023 policy statement requiring authorized liquefied natural gas exporters to meet stringent criteria before DOE approved extensions of export authorizations, including that the associated export project be under construction, and the authorization holder needed to demonstrate that extenuating circumstances outside its control prevented the commencement of exports within seven years.

April 1, 2025

• House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) and House Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-KY) announced a review of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) decision contradicting the Trump Environmental Protection Agency’s determination that Biden-era waivers from the Clean Air Act granted to California for its “electric vehicle mandate” should be considered as rules for purposes of the Congressional Review Act. On March 6^th, the GAO published its “observations” that the preemption waivers for California were “not a rule for purposes of the CRA because it was an order under the Administrative Procedure Act.”

March 31, 2025 

• U.S. District Court Judge Edward Chen blocked the Trump Administration from curtailing Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 600,000 Venezuelan immigrants living in the U.S. Chen said that DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s decision to curtail TPS protections was an unprecedented, legally flawed move that appeared to be rooted in racial discrimination by both Noem and President Donald Trump. 

• Brookfield Asset Management is putting the final touches on a deal to acquire Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. fuel transportation system, for more than $9 billion including debt. Colonial’s pipeline system stretches over 5,500 miles from Houston, Texas to New York’s harbor. It moves more than 100 million gallons of fuel daily, including gasoline, jet fuel, diesel and heating oil. 

March 30, 2025

• President Trump made clear he is serious about possibly of seeking a third term during an NBC interview. Trump said, “There are methods which you could do it. A lot people want me to do it. But I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration.”

March 27, 2025

• The Trump Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a portal to allow companies to request exemptions from Clean Air Act (CAA) rules setting limits on pollution from industries including coal plants, iron and steel manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, copper smelting, and sterilizers. The exemptions would be based on the President’s power under the CAA to exempt companies from complying with regulations if he determines that the rules are based on technology that is not yet feasible. 

• The Congressional Budget Office released its long-term budget and economic outlook report (from 2025 to 2055) that projected publicly-held debt to reach 156% of gross domestic product in 2055. That’s down from the agency’s March 2024 long-term budget projection, which said publicly held debt would be equal to a record 166% of American economic activity by 2054. The report projected that tax revenue will come in slightly higher than expected and the U.S. economy will see a slightly lower growth rate due to lower-than-anticipated growth in private investment and consumer spending, as well as slower labor force growth in the final decade of the 30-year outlook.  

• The Wall Street Journal reported that health insurers got paid at least $4.3 billion in duplicative payments by state and federal governments to cover low-income Medicaid recipients over three years who were enrolled—and paid for—in other states. The patients were signed up for Medicaid in two states at once, in many cases following a move from one state to the other. Most were getting all their healthcare services through one insurer in one state, even though Medicaid was paying insurers in both states to cover them.

• Roll Call published a rundown of the Democratic House candidates who lost in 2024 and are or may be seeking a rematch next year as Democrats look for “candidates who ‘rose above the brand [and] overperformed’ compared with Vice President Kamala Harris in her race against Donald Trump.” Featured Democratic candidates include Pennsylvania’s Janelle Stelson, Wisconsin’s Rebecca Cooke, and Arizona’s Marlene Galán-Woods.

• EMILY’s List, a PAC that works to elect Democratic female candidates supportive of abortion rights, released a list of 46 House Republicans the PAC is targeting in the 2026 midterm elections.

March 25, 2025

• President Trump signed an executive order (EO) on “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections” that imposes “voter citizenship verification and bans foreign nationals from interfering in U.S. elections.” Specifically, the EO requires: (1) the Election Assistance Commission to require documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms; (2) giving states access to Department of Homeland Security, Social Security, and State Department databases to verify eligibility and citizenship of individuals registered to vote; and (3) conditioning federal election-related funds on states complying with “integrity measures set forth by Federal law,” including that states use the national mail voter registration form that will now require proof of citizenship. The EO further directs that DOJ “take appropriate action against states that count ballots received after Election Day in Federal elections,” with federal election funding conditioned on compliance. On March 31^st, the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Governors Association, and Senate and House Democratic leaders filed a lawsuit against the EO in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asking the court to block the order and declare it illegal. 

• The American Society of Civil Engineers issued its once-every-four-years report card on the upkeep of America’s infrastructure, giving the country a “C” grade, up slightly from previous reports, largely due to infrastructure investments made during the Biden Administration. The report, which examines everything from roads and dams to drinking water and railroads, also warned that federal funding must be sustained or increased to avoid further deterioration and escalating costs.

Around the Country 

Northeast 

• On April 3^rd, Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) announced a Democratic primary run for retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) U.S. Senate seat. 

• On April 2^nd, the owners of the former Homer City Generating Plant, which was once Pennsylvania’s biggest-coal fired power plant, said they will turn the site into a $10 billion natural gas-powered data center campus designed to capitalize on the fast-growing energy demands of Big Tech companies to power artificial intelligence and cloud computing applications. The project will use infrastructure left on site from the old coal plant and seven gas-fired turbines built by GE Vernova Inc., with first deliveries from GE Vernova expected to begin next year.

• On March 31^st, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a public hearing on May 7, 2025 regarding an updated draft of the general permit for all small and regulated “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems” (MS4s) located in Massachusetts. The new draft permit includes new requirements to begin implementing plans developed under a 2016 permit to install controls to treat stormwater runoff on permittee-owned property, begin upgrading catch basins to better control solids in stormwater runoff, develop street design standards that feature nature-based solutions, develop an integrated system to track MS4 assets and maintenance, and expand public engagement. The hearing on the updated draft permit will be held virtually on May 7, 2025 at 7pm ET and those who wish to participate must register here in advance of the meeting.

• On March 25^th, a new poll found that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who is up for re-election in 2026, has a negative approval rating with just 24% of Mainers saying they approved of her and 61% saying they disapproved. The poll’s crosstabs also show she is being pinched on both sides—she’s upside down with Kamala Harris voters at 17/71 and with Donald Trump voters at 30/52.

West

• On April 2^nd, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced it is seeking public comment on a petition to reopen and modify a 2022 final consent order involving Verdun Oil Company II LLC’s (Verdun) acquisition of EP Energy LLC (EP), which settled charges that the acquisition would harm competition for the sale of Uinta Basin waxy crude oil to Salt Lake City, Utah refiners. The FTC notes that according to the petition filed by Verdun and EP, there have been significant changes since the FTC order was entered that now justify removing the requirement that Verdun, XCL Resources Holdings, LLC, and their parent entities, EnCap Energy Capital Fund XI, L.P. and EnCap Investments L.P. obtain prior approval from the Commission before engaging in certain acquisition transactions across several counties in Utah.

• On April 1^st, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the March 27^th arrest of the general manager of San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings in El Cajon, CA and three employees on harboring charges stemming from a search warrant served on the company. The manager was charged with conspiracy to harbor aliens for employing undocumented workers and allowing them to live in the company’s warehouse, while the employees were charged with using false documents to work in the U.S.

• On March 16^th, Interior Secretary Burgum and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Turner wrote in the Wall Street Journal about a newly formed task force to be led by these two secretaries to identify federal land that would be suitable for building affordable housing. The task force is an initial step towards fulfilling President Trump’s pledge to unlock vast swaths of federal land to address America’s housing shortage by transferring or leasing the land to local governments. It seems the effort would focus on western states—such as Nevada, Utah, California, and Arizona—where the Bureau of Land Management controls large amounts of land. On March 17^th, the Wall Street Journal published a more detailed article on what the Trump Administration is envisioning, including how the Administration would, on a “case-by-case” basis, transfer or lease suitable land to public-housing authorities, nonprofits, and local governments or sell it to private developers.  

Northwest 

• On March 31^st, the Trump Energy Department (DOE) announced that the Idaho National Laboratory has debuted a new molten salt test loop that will support the development of advanced reactors using molten salts. Molten salt reactors use molten salt as a coolant, and in some instances as a liquid fuel, offering enhanced safety features and the ability to operate at high temperatures to generate reliable and secure electricity, as well as process heat which can be used by industry. The new molten salt flow loop will inform the development of molten salt reactors, such as the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment, one of several advanced reactor designs being supported by DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.

Midwest 

• On April 3^rd, Dan Osborn, the independent U.S. Senate candidate who nearly toppled Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) last year, announced he is preparing to challenge Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-NE) in 2026.

• On April 2^nd, State Sen. Mallory McMorrow announced a run in the Democratic primary for retiring Sen. Gary Peters’ (D-MI) U.S. Senate seat. 

• On March 24^th, progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh announced a primary challenge to Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) in Illinois’ 9^th Congressional District which includes the northern suburbs of Chicago.  

• On March 17^th, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the release of a second loan disbursement of $56,787,300 to Holtec for the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan. This is part of a $1.52 billion loan guarantee to Holtec for the Palisades project, which will provide 800MW of affordable, reliable baseload power in Michigan. The loan is a first of its kind effort by the DOE to restart an American nuclear power plant. The restart of the Palisades Nuclear Plant is projected to create or retain up to 600 quality jobs in Michigan.

Southeast

• On March 27^th, the Trump Interior Department announced the disbursement of $353.6 million in energy revenues from offshore oil and gas production to the state and local governments of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas to support infrastructure projects and coastal restoration and protection projects. The revenue-sharing model for Gulf states to receive a portion of the funds generated from leasing in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf was established by federal regulations in 2017. A full list of the disbursements is available here.

• On March 26^th, the U.S. Coast Guard awarded a $951 million contract to Bollinger Shipyards in Mississippi for the design and construction of the Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program. The PSC program aims to construct four or five heavy icebreakers by 2030—the first new, American-made heavy icebreakers in nearly 50 years.

• On March 24^th, President Trump lauded an announcement from South Korean automaker Hyundai that it will invest $20 billion in the United States, including a new steel plant in Louisiana. Trump praised the commitment as evidence of the positive impact of his tariff policies.

• On March 21^st, the Maritime Administration issued a license authorizing Delfin LNG, LLC, to own, operate, construct, and eventually decommission a deepwater port off the coast of Louisiana to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the U.S. The Delfin LNG, LLC deepwater port facility will transport LNG to the global market from U.S. federal waters, approximately 37.4 to 40.8 nautical miles off the coast of Cameron Parish, Louisiana. This deepwater port project will be the first offshore LNG export project in the U.S. and is being issued in accordance with President Trump’s EO “Unleashing American Energy,” signed on January 20, 2025.

• On March 19^th, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that Secretary of Energy Chris Wright approved a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export authorization for the proposed Venture Global CP2 LNG export project in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Once constructed, CP2, owned by Venture Global, will be able to export up to 3.96 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of LNG. The issuance of the export authorization marks the fifth LNG-related approval from DOE since President Trump took office, following an export approval to Commonwealth LNG on February 14, an order on rehearing removing barriers for the use of LNG as bunkering fuel announced on February 28, an approval providing the Golden Pass LNG terminal more time to commence exports issued March 5, and approval granting the Delfin LNG project additional time to commence exports issued on March 10.

Southwest

• On April 3^rd, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said House Democrats would likely pursue a lawsuit over Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R-TX) delay in calling a special election to fill the late Rep. Sylvester Turner’s (D-TX) seat in Texas’s 18^th Congressional District.

• On March 31^st, Pima County, Arizona Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, the daughter of the late Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), announced her candidacy for her father’s former seat in Arizona’s 7^th Congressional District. Grijalva framed herself as a “progressive champion” who will stand up to President Trump and fight for working families. 

• On March 31^st, it was revealed that Dow wants to use next-generation nuclear reactors for clean power and steam at a manufacturing complex in Seadrift, Texas instead of natural gas. Dow subsidiary Long Mott Energy applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a construction permit. It said the project with X-energy, an advanced nuclear reactor and fuel company, would nearly eliminate the emissions associated with power and steam generation at the plant, avoiding roughly 500,000 metric tons of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions annually. 

Alaska and Hawaii

• On March 26^th, U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason in Alaska ruled that the Biden Administration lacked the authority to cancel oil and gas leases that had been issued for development within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. In her ruling, Gleason said the Biden Administration needed a court order to cancel the leases.