Baldwin Urges Trump Admin to Enforce Buy America in Highway Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is pressing the Trump Administration to fully enforce Buy America laws in highway construction projects, warning that failure to act would undercut U.S. workers, manufacturers, and taxpayers.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Baldwin urged the administration to follow through on the Department of Transportation’s final rule ending the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) 40-year-old blanket waiver that allowed foreign-manufactured products to be used in federally funded highway projects.

“Finally putting an end to this blanket waiver that has allowed the federal government to sidestep Buy America rules when constructing highways will help spur domestic manufacturing and support American-made products and jobs,” Baldwin wrote. “For that reason, it is essential that the Department of Transportation adhere to the rule and begin enforcement of Buy America for manufactured products starting next month.”

She added: “It is a straightforward concept: when we use taxpayer dollars to build infrastructure, we should be using American products and supporting American businesses and workers. I strongly urge you to enforce this critical final rule to discontinue the 1983 Manufactured Products General Waiver of Buy America once and for all.”

A Longstanding Loophole

The Manufactured Products General Waiver, first issued in 1983, exempted FHWA projects from Buy America requirements that were designed to prioritize U.S.-made steel, iron, and manufactured goods. Critics like Baldwin argue the waiver became a loophole that disadvantaged domestic producers while funneling taxpayer dollars overseas.

Baldwin has repeatedly pressed administrations of both parties to end the waiver. In January 2021, she pressed then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during his Senate confirmation to commit to rescinding or revising the rule. Again in May 2023, she wrote to FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt to “begin the long overdue process of developing FHWA’s guidelines for the purchase of American-made manufactured products in Federal-aid highway projects.”

New Rule, Phased Timeline

Earlier this year, the Biden Administration finalized a phased plan to end the waiver:

• Phase 1 (October 1, 2025): All manufactured products used in federally funded highway projects must undergo final assembly in the U.S.
• Phase 2 (October 1, 2026): At least 55% of components by cost must be mined, produced, or manufactured domestically, in addition to the assembly requirement.

Baldwin is now calling on the Trump Administration to ensure those rules are enforced “faithfully and on schedule,” beginning next month.

Market Signals for U.S. Supply Chains

In her letter, Baldwin argued that targeted waivers—when supply chain gaps are identified—should be narrow, time-limited, and transparent, noting they can serve as signals for investment in American factories. She stressed that broad or indefinite waivers undermine U.S. competitiveness and the manufacturing workforce.

“When we spoke about this issue at your confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, you acknowledged that it matters for Wisconsin and for our country as a whole,” Baldwin reminded Secretary Duffy.

Broader Push for American Manufacturing

Baldwin’s call reflects a broader push in Congress to tie federal infrastructure spending to domestic job creation and industrial revival. With billions in highway funding flowing from recent infrastructure initiatives, enforcement of Buy America rules could reshape procurement practices and strengthen U.S. supply chains in steel, concrete, machinery, and advanced manufacturing.

For Wisconsin and other manufacturing states, Baldwin emphasized, the issue is both economic and symbolic: “This is about making sure taxpayer dollars don’t just build roads, but also build opportunity for American workers.”

Originally reported by Tammy Baldwin, United States Senator in Baldwin State Government.