California High-Speed Rail Funding Under Trump Administration Review
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declared the initiation of a compliance review into California’s high-speed rail project, concerning $4 billion of funding from the Biden Administration earmarked for construction in the Central Valley.
The review aims to determine the outlook of future federal funding commitments for the project, which has faced significant challenges and delays. If federal funding were to be taken away, a California representative said that further taxpayer dollars would have to be reallocated toward the project.
The High-Speed Rail Authority said they “welcome[d]” the investigation assuring that all funding has been appropriately used and emphasizing the $22 billion economic impact the project has already generated for the Central Valley.
The Trump administration's compliance review of California's high-speed rail project aligns with broader efforts to reduce government spending and ensure stricter oversight of federal funds, particularly in large-scale infrastructure initiatives.
Budget Plan Moves to House After Senate Approval
After meeting with constituents, the House plans to vote on a budget plan backed by President Trump, aiming to cut $2 trillion in federal spending to fund $4.5 billion in tax cuts. This bill also includes funding for the U.S.-Mexico border wall and other issues.
The Senate passed a narrower $340-billion plan on February 20, focusing on border security and defense, while the House bill is more aligned with Trump's goals, including tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of the year.
Lawmakers are also working to prevent a government shutdown as the current continuing resolution expires on March 14. Industry groups express concern over the impact of potential shutdowns on renewable energy and infrastructure projects.
Leaders, particularly in energy and water sectors, are worried about project delays due to uncertainty around federal funding and executive orders. They are calling for more investment in infrastructure projects like water systems through state revolving fund programs and tax-exempt municipal bonds.
February 21, 2025
Olsson, a Nebraska-based engineering and design firm, announced the acquisition of Darr & Collins, an Oklahoma-based MEP engineering firm that serves various markets, including hospitality, education, corporate office, government, correctional, health care, banking, and industrial. This strategic acquisition will allow Olsson to broaden its services in Oklahoma and enhance its MEP capabilities, while Darr & Collins will gain opportunities for its employees to engage with higher-level projects and access resources nationwide. Dave Roberts, Chief Development Officer at Olsson, expressed, “We are thrilled to add Darr & Collins’ expertise to our suite of services. They have an excellent reputation in mechanical and electrical design. I’m eager to welcome their employees to our Oklahoma City office.”
February 24, 2025
Stratus Team (Stratus), a Pennsylvania-based engineering, architecture, and consulting firm, backed by Brightstar Capital Partners, has acquired Engineering Strategies, Inc. (ESI), a Georgia-based water and wastewater engineering firm that serves municipal and industrial clients. This move enables ESI to expand its impact and client base, while Stratus enhances both its presence in the Southeast and its position in the water resources market. Brandon Enochs, CEO of Stratus, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We believe this move strengthens our leadership in the water resources market, positioning us to enhance our service with the growing demand for sustainable water solutions across municipal and industrial sectors. ESI’s deep expertise and established presence are an excellent fit for Stratus, and we look forward to leveraging these strengths to deliver continued excellence to clients.”
February 24, 2025
ICOP, an Italy-based underground engineering firm with expertise in special foundations and microtunneling, has agreed to acquire Atlantic GeoConstruction Holdings (AGH), a Florida-based geotechnical services firm. This acquisition is a significant moment for ICOP as it expands globally, bringing the firm closer to its goal of becoming a global leader in foundation engineering. Entering the U.S. market will allow ICOP to accelerate growth, enhance its service offerings, and drive innovation.
February 25, 2025
Resource Innovations (RI), a California-based tech-enabled services firm specializing in energy efficiency and sustainability, backed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, has acquired Richard Health & Associates (RHA), a California-based firm that provides energy efficiency, energy resilience, and public health-related services to underserved communities. This partnership combines their expertise and reach, allowing them to increase their impact and deliver more extensive energy and public health solutions to hard-to-reach communities. Lauren Casentini, Founder and CEO of RI, stated, “Adding [RHA’s] specialized expertise to RI’s offerings will provide our utility, government, and corporate clients unmatched depth to deliver energy efficiency, climate resilience, and public health and safety services to the communities that need them most.”
February 25, 2025
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services (Langan), a New Jersey-based environmental and engineering consulting firm, backed by TowerBrook Capital Partners, has acquired ATR Engineering (ATR), a Texas-based civil and site engineering firm with a focus on land development in various sectors, such as commercial, warehouse, and multifamily residential. This strategic move further strengthens Langan’s presence in Texas, marking their third acquisition in the state. David T. Gockel, President & CEO of Langan, commented, “We are excited to continue our growth in Texas by adding Aaron [Rendon, Founder and President of ATR,] and his team to Langan. ATR brings great local expertise and a strong reputation among key clients in Houston.”
VHB supported this year’s Future City Regional Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. Future City is an engineering education program that teaches middle-school students about the career of engineering and how the engineering design process can help solve civic and social issues, driving change in their communities. This year’s competition hosted teams from schools in North and South Carolina and challenged them to design a floating city that protects the health and safety of the citizens, allowing students to innovate and think critically about the threat climate change poses to flooded coastlines. VHB proudly engaged in this competition, which aims to nurture and inspire students to become engineers and design our future cities.
The EFCG Weekly Briefing summarizes the week’s key news in the AEC industry, including M&A updates, and micro- and macro-trends, aggregated from industry-focused and global news sources.
To send any additional press releases or news from your firm that you would like us to share please email Clay Han at chan@efcg.com.