U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Alabama, is leading a renewed Republican push to overturn a Biden administration rule mandating Project Labor Agreements, PLAs, for large-scale federal construction projects—an initiative critics say would drive up costs, delay projects, and undercut merit-based competition.
Britt and 20 of her Republican colleagues sent a letter to President Trump urging a future administration to reverse the PLA mandate finalized last December by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council. The final rule requires PLAs on federal construction contracts valued at $35 million or more.
“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 added, “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 lawmakers concluded the letter by appealing to Trump’s economic platform: “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.”
Among the Senators joining Britt in signing the letter were 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 PLA mandate, published in the Federal Register on Dec. 22, 2023, is designed to apply to federal construction projects worth $35 million or more. Britt and others argue it would severely inhibit merit-based bidding, cost taxpayers billions annually, and disproportionately harm nonunion contractors.
“ABC has long fought the Biden administration’s burdensome, inflationary and anti-competitive PLA mandate rule,” said Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama Board Chairman Tim Harrison. “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.”
Britt has made opposition to PLA mandates a core part of her labor and infrastructure agenda. Earlier this year, she joined Senator Todd Young, R-Ind., in reintroducing the Fair and Open Competition Act, which would prevent the federal government from requiring PLAs on taxpayer-funded projects.
“Project labor agreements are not only costly, but also discourage qualified contractors to compete, all at the expense of hardworking taxpayers and small businesses,” Britt said at the time.
Alabama is one of 24 states with state-level laws prohibiting government-mandated PLAs.
