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Despite the announcement, a potential challenge to the infrastructure act rollout is the current standoff over the U.S. debt ceiling. If a compromise is not reached before June 1, the country could default on its debts, which would have enormous consequences for the U.S. economy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe president\u2019s \u2018Investing in America\u2019 agenda is working,\u201d said Mitch Landrieu, coordinator and senior adviser for infrastructure act implementation, in a recent press conference. \u201c[A default] threatens to undo all of this major progress going forward \u2026 The consequences are unpredictable but it can\u2019t have anything but negative consequences on the work that we\u2019re trying to do.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n As White House and congressional leaders discuss how to avoid a default, programs such as education, housing and defense are being negotiated and some lawmakers have proposed <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>clawing back some $30 billion in unused COVID-19 funds<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. Contractors and related groups are watching to make sure IIJA funding doesn\u2019t get slashed as part of a political deal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are certainly watching to make sure the bipartisan infrastructure funding does not get cut,\u201d Brian Turmail, vice president of public affairs and strategic initiatives at Associated General Contractors of America, said in an email. \u201cNotably, the House did not propose cuts to it when it voted to increase the debt ceiling.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n In recent earnings calls, several heads of public construction firms said they were continuing to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>see the impact of the infrastructure act<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, and expect to benefit more in coming years. They are also keeping an eye on the debt ceiling talks.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n AECOM CEO Troy Rudd said he did not expect IIJA funding to be cut, and pointed out that there is bipartisan support for infrastructure investment.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe have a hopeful sense of optimism that sensible leaders negotiate, we expect that that will happen, and we\u2019ll get a successful outcome and this will pass us by,\u201d Rudd <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>said in an earnings call<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>. \u201cBut, even with the uncertainty, the short answer on IIJA funding is that it\u2019s procedurally difficult and politically impractical to claw back that funding, so we don\u2019t see that being at risk.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Jacobs CEO Bob Pragada said the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>IIJA is bolstering the firm\u2019s bookings<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> and pipeline. When asked if Congress\u2019 negotiations were slowing IIJA progress, he responded, \u201cThe short answer is no. We’re not seeing that at all.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n “[The] IIJA, it’s the law. So, as far as it being repealed, it would have to be significant \u2014 there would have to be a new law. And so, we feel confident about that,” Pragada said.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n