Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is celebrating a major policy shift by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) that removes project labor agreement (PLA) mandates for land port of entry construction projects. The Feb. 12 decision marks a departure from the Biden administration’s rule requiring union-favoring PLAs on federal projects over $35 million. ABC argues that PLAs drive up costs, reduce competition, and limit opportunities for non-union contractors.
The GSA’s move follows a similar decision by the Department of Defense to halt PLA mandates on military projects. However, Biden’s PLA rule still applies to most federal agencies. ABC continues to push for broader deregulation, including litigation to challenge the mandate’s legality.
In a separate policy win, ABC praised the Trump administration’s rollback of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, which it says will streamline infrastructure permitting. The Council on Environmental Quality plans further reforms to reduce bureaucratic delays, a move ABC supports as essential to cutting costs and accelerating development.
