Omnibus Spending Passage Demolishes Federal Infrastructure Plans

Construction industry trade association officials fear that passage of the omnibus federal spending legislation just signed by President Trump, which increased federal construction spending by $21 billion over previous fiscal year budgets, has imperiled any further progress this year on the Trump proposed $200 billion federal infrastructure package. AASHTO policy director Joung Lee says Congressional action on any infrastructure legislation this year is unlikely, given midterm election concerns of House members. “It’s hard to envision anything of significance happening towards the midterm elections,” he said.

Steve Hall, VP for government affairs of the American Council of Engineering Companies doubts passage of a long term, comprehensive infrastructure bill at all in this Congress. “There’s going to be multiple initiatives … and it may extend well beyond this year,” he surmised. Trump administration officials have said it makes more sense to “tack on things the president cares about,” – like airport construction grants and Army Corps of Engineers waterway construction projects - to other bills Congress may actually move forward.