U.S. Senator Katie Britt Leads Republican Colleagues in Letter to President Trump Calling for End of Government-Mandated Project Labor Agreements

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently led 20 of her Senate Republican colleagues in a letter to President Trump requesting his Administration rescind the Biden Administration’s final rule mandating Project Labor Agreements for federal construction projects.

“The rulemaking threatens the competitiveness of infrastructure bids, increases construction costs, and delays work on federal construction contracts procured by federal agencies such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the General Services Administration,” the Senators wrote.

They continued, “The nation’s builders union and nonunion alike deserve a level playing field where the American taxpayer gets the best value for their dollar and our workforce is free from unjust mandates. We respectfully request that you reverse this Biden administration policy and restore the long-established government neutrality in federal and federally assisted contracting.”

“The economic prosperity of American workers relies on free market competitiveness based on merit. We trust in your leadership to safeguard the principles that make our nation strong and look forward to working with you to address these concerns,” the Senators concluded.

On December 22, 2023, the Biden Administration published in the Federal Register the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council’s final rule, Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects. This applies to large-scale federal construction projects valued at $35 million and would severely inhibit merit-based competition and cost taxpayers billions of dollars annually.

Joining Senator Britt in sending the letter are Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.Dak.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Mike Rounds (R-S.Dak.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.Dak.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). The full letter can be read here.

“ABC has long fought the Biden Administration’s burdensome, inflationary and anti-competitive PLA mandate rule. PLAs negatively impact merit-shop contractors, reduce competition, and increase cost. We’re grateful for Senator Britt’s leadership to advocate for federal contracts to be awarded based on merit to foster competition in the bidding process and ensure federal projects are completed efficiently and effectively,” said Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama Board Chairman Tim Harrison.

Earlier this year, Senator Britt joined Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and 12 of their Senate Republican colleagues in reintroducing the Fair and Open Competition Act (FOCA), which would prevent the federal government from mandating project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal projects funded by taxpayers. “Project labor agreements are not only costly, but also discourage qualified contractors to compete, all at the expense of hardworking taxpayers and small businesses,” said Senator Britt on introduction.

Alabama is one of 24 states with state-level laws prohibiting government-mandated PLAs on state, state-assisted and local construction projects, depending on the scope of their law.

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