Advocacy Connection Series: What We Heard From Members

Over the past several weeks, ACEC brought together members from across our coalitions for a new initiative: the Advocacy Connection Series. These sessions were designed with a simple goal in mind, to create a more direct line between what firms are experiencing on the ground and how ACEC shapes its advocacy priorities in Washington and across the states.

Across six sessions, featuring the Coalition of American Structural Engineers (CASE), Coalition of Professional Surveyors (COPS), Geoprofessionals Coalition (GEO), Land Development Coalition (LDC), Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) Coalition, and the Small Firm Coalition (SFC), more than 100 members joined the conversation. Each discussion provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from firms about the challenges they are navigating right now, and where they see risk, opportunity, and uncertainty ahead.

While each coalition brought its own unique perspective, several clear themes emerged across the series.

Workforce Pressures Remain Front and Center
Unsurprisingly, workforce challenges were a consistent thread throughout nearly every session. Firms continue to face difficulty recruiting and retaining qualified talent, particularly in specialized technical roles. Policy concerns, like potential changes to the H-1B visa program, were frequently raised as factors that could further constrain access to skilled professionals.

In some disciplines, these challenges are compounded by structural barriers to entry. For example, structural engineers highlighted concerns with the PE Structural exam, noting that recent changes to the exam format and low pass rates may be limiting the pipeline of licensed professionals. Across the board, there was a shared recognition that workforce shortages are not a short-term issue, they are a long-term constraint on growth and project delivery.

Liability and Risk Are Increasing
Another major theme was the growing pressure related to liability and risk. Many firms pointed to rising litigation, increasing insurance costs, and broader concerns around tort exposure as significant challenges. In some cases, these pressures are outpacing fee growth, creating a difficult business environment, particularly for disciplines that are more frequently subject to claims.

These concerns were especially pronounced among structural engineers, but they were echoed in/by other coalitions as well. The conversation reinforced the importance of continued advocacy around tort reform and risk mitigation strategies that better align liability with actual responsibility.

Procurement and Contracting Challenges Persist
Across multiple sessions, members raised ongoing concerns related to procurement requirements and contracting practices. Issues such as DBE participation requirements, local hire mandates, and broader MWBE-related policies continue to create challenges, particularly when they intersect with contractual risk or compliance obligations.

Firms are navigating these requirements while also managing the potential for increased exposure under laws like the False Claims Act, adding another layer of complexity to project delivery. These conversations highlighted the need for clear, consistent, and fair implementation of these policies.

Different Perspectives, Shared Engagement
What does this mean for your firm?

The issues raised across these conversations, including workforce constraints, increasing liability, and evolving procurement requirements, are already shaping the business environment firms are operating in today. They are also directly informing ACEC’s advocacy priorities at both the federal and state levels.

In other words, what you and your peers are experiencing is not just being heard, it is helping drive where and how ACEC is focusing its efforts on your behalf.

What’s Next
Stay engaged with your coalition, share what you’re seeing in your firm, and continue to participate in future Advocacy Connection Series sessions. Your input helps ensure ACEC’s advocacy stays grounded in real-world experience and reflects the issues that matter most to engineering firms.