WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alabama U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt are calling on the Trump administration to roll back a Biden-era mandate requiring Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for large federal construction projects — a rule they argue raises costs and stifles fair competition.

In a letter led by Britt and co-signed by Tuberville and nineteen other GOP Senators, the lawmakers urged President Trump to rescind the rule, which they say unfairly tilts the playing field and wastes taxpayer dollars.

“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.

“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.”

The group believes the PLA requirement is costing taxpayers billions annually and undermines free market competition.

“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,” the letter continued.

Alabama builders back the push. Tim Harrison, Board Chairman of Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, praised Britt’s stance:

“ABC has long fought the Biden Administration’s burdensome, inflationary, and anti-competitive PLA mandate rule,” Harrison said. “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.”

While the Trump administration signaled last month it would not fully void the rule, it did note PLAs should only be used when they are “practicable and cost-effective.”

“For clarity, the Trump administration supports the use of PLAs when those agreements are practicable and cost-effective, and blanket deviations prohibiting the use of PLAs are precluded,” said Russell T. Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

Alabama is one of 24 states with laws that limit or prohibit government-mandated PLAs at the state and local levels, depending on the scope of the project.

PLAs require contractors on large federal construction projects to sign collective bargaining agreements with local unions, even if their workforce is nonunion. Critics say this reduces the pool of eligible bidders, drives up project costs, and can delay schedules — while supporters argue PLAs ensure fair wages and skilled labor on major federal builds.

The issue has drawn a sharp divide between the Biden administration’s push for pro-union policies and Republican lawmakers’ preference for open competition and merit-based contracting.

Sen. Britt has also introduced legislation to block federal PLAs entirely — a move praised by industry leaders in Alabama, where the commercial construction sector alone has supported more than 200,000 jobs and contributed $17.2 billion to the state economy in a single year.

The Trump administration’s mixed messaging leaves contractors watching closely. For now, companies bidding on federal projects are left navigating the PLA requirements on a project-by-project basis.

Industry groups, including ABC of Alabama, say they’ll continue to press for more clarity — and for federal contracts to remain open to all qualified contractors regardless of union status.

Originally reported by Austen Shipley in Yellow Hammer News.