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The construction industry faces a shifting landscape as the Trump administration sets about reshaping some of the country\u2019s most impactful federal policies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n With changes in infrastructure priorities, regulatory rollbacks and economic shifts, contractors and developers are bracing for both new opportunities and potential setbacks. Some sectors, such as data centers and infrastructure, are set for rapid growth, while clean energy projects and high-speed rail could see federal support dwindle. Other types of projects have a mixed or uncertain outlook under the new administration.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Below, Construction Dive looks at the sectors poised to lose momentum under Trump\u2019s second term. Click here for the sectors<\/a> that are poised to gain momentum.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Unleashing American Energy order seeks to accelerate power projects but notably leaves out the burgeoning solar and wind sectors, which together comprise about <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>14% of the country\u2019s power supply<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, according to the Energy Information Administration.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Trump\u2019s ire has long been directed at wind power in particular, even though the biggest producers are red states, per the EIA. To that end he signed a standalone executive order temporarily suspending new or renewed leases for <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>offshore and onshore wind projects<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, and halted the leasing of wind power projects on the outer continental shelf, pending a review by federal agencies. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Among the major open questions around the order is whether <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>projects that have already received permits<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> are in jeopardy, according to Grist. For example, it has<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span> halted development of the 100,000-acre Lava Ridge Wind<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> project in Idaho, the Idaho Capital Sun reported.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The order also directs the administration\u2019s pick for Secretary of the Interior, former North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, to lead a comprehensive assessment of federal wind leasing and permitting practices. As of 2023, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>wind generated 36% of North Dakota\u2019s power<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Despite the order, many <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>renewable energy giants seemed to shrug<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> off Trump\u2019s actions, CNBC reported.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s tough to tell what will happen with solar energy. New solar projects could be <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>hit hard by tariffs from China<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, a crucial source of parts, according to Politico. Still, wind, solar and other clean energy projects could all be sped along if Trump weakens environmental laws to speed construction permitting.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn discussions with construction clients and industry leaders, there is a general consensus that both \u2018traditional\u2019 energy sources and \u2018greener\u2019 energy have roles in play in the broader energy landscape,\u201d said Kassalen.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Passenger and high-speed rail projects supported through the Biden administration could get reduced federal support under Trump, according to Holland and Knight. Additionally, public transit systems, which rely on federal funding, could struggle to secure the money needed to expand their systems due to cuts in discretionary transportation funding.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n IIJA funding for rail projects could be affected in particular, Holland and Knight experts wrote.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe administration and congressional Republicans may attempt to offset annual passenger rail funding using advanced appropriations provided by the IIJA, which included $66 billion in advanced appropriations for rail projects,\u201d according to the brief.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Trump\u2019s hostile attitude toward EVs does not appear to have softened after welcoming Tesla CEO Elon Musk onto his team: His Day 1 energy order directs agencies to <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>eliminate the \u201celectric vehicle (EV) mandate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u201d It specifically targets IIJA funds for electric vehicle charging stations through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant Program, together worth $7.5 billion.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Although Trump wants to halt the disbursement of unspent funds from those programs, legal experts say that he probably doesn\u2019t have the power to. Doing so would likely <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>violate the Impoundment Act<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a>, which prevents presidents from blocking spending that Congress has appropriated, according to CNN. However, Trump has used his power to rescind Biden\u2019s executive order that called for half of all new vehicles sold to be electric by 2030.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWind, solar energy<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
High-speed rail<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
EV and battery factories<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n