On Nov. 17, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced a proposed rule on a common-sense definition of “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act.

Generally, the proposed ruling aims to define and clarify the scope of federal jurisdiction over Clean Water Act permitting, which in past years has been unclear. According to an EPA fact sheet, the proposed rule would ensure federal jurisdiction is focused on “relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing bodies of water.”

Total construction starts expanded 2.6% in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.24 trillion, according to Dodge Construction Network. Nonresidential building starts fell by 6.6%, residential starts increased 1.0%, and nonbuilding starts grew 16.3% over the month. For the full year, total construction starts expanded 5.4%. Nonresidential starts were up 4.5%, residential starts were down 4.8% and nonbuilding starts were 18.7% higher when compared to 2024.  

The construction industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers in 2026 to meet demand for construction services, according to a proprietary model developed and released by Associated Builders and Contractors. In 2027, the industry will need to bring in 456,000 new workers to meet demand as construction spending growth is poised to resume for the first time in years.

The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) recently signed into law by President Donald Trump includes authorization of progressive design-build (PDB) for military construction.

It is the first time that the NDAA explicitly authorizes progressive design-build delivery for military projects. The provision establishes a clear framework for PDB, emphasizing qualifications-based, single-phase selection, and early collaboration between owners and industry partners.