Editorials .taxonomy-header__description{ width: 675px !important; max-width: 100% !important; }

Image courtesy of: urban (E+ / Getty Images)

Opinion pieces and insights into industry practices from ENR Editors

]]> https://www.enr.com/rss/149 en-us An H-1B Visa Policy That Makes No Economic Sense If you want to get a sense of the talent challenge now confronting industry firms, you need look no further than the open jobs posted on the website of GEI Consultants

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/63102 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/63102-an-h-1b-visa-policy-that-makes-no-economic-sense Inflationary War Shocks and Ruined Infrastructure Tab climbs as high as $58B to rebuild war-damaged Persian Gulf energy infrastructure, including in Iran, three weeks after global consultant estimated a $25B cost


]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/62883 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 16:45:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/62883-inflationary-war-shocks-and-ruined-infrastructure During Safety Week 2026, Recognize and Stress Hazards There are jobsite hazards that not only are hard to recognize, but also are sometimes the result of trying to work more efficiently and safely.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/62808 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:50:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/62808-during-safety-week-2026-recognize-stress-hazards Gateway Funding Freeze Threatens a National Rail Artery A commentary on how President Trump's unilateral decisions on American infrastructure are having profound consequences on the future health of the United States economy.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/62479 Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:10:30 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/62479-gateway-funding-freeze-threatens-a-national-rail-artery Two Contractor Selections: One Ruined, One Misunderstood A commentary on recent procurement uproars in Massachusetts and Corpus Christi.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/61949 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 16:07:17 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/61949-two-contractor-selections-one-ruined-one-misunderstood Trump War on Wind Power Innovation Is as Irrational as It Is Damaging to AEC Firms A commentary on how the deliberate effort to undermine existing projects and investors will suppress power supply and R&D and end up a losing battle for its leader


]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/61319 Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:13:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/61319-trump-war-on-wind-power-innovation-is-as-irrational-as-it-is-damaging-to-aec-firms What to Do About Immigrant Construction Workers Under Siege An ENR commentary about construction industry worksite raids, deportations and the need for special visas.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/61146 Wed, 06 Aug 2025 19:29:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/61146-what-to-do-about-immigrant-construction-workers-under-siege Soccer Surveillance Limited Injury Payout: Holding Down NY Insurance Costs A commentary about a recent case that says much about New York State's high liability insurance costs.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/60929 Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:30:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/60929-soccer-surveillance-limited-injury-payout-holding-down-ny-insurance-costs The Perils of Trump's Federal Reserve Ploy An editorial warning that the Federal Reserve's independence must be preserved.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/60640 Wed, 23 Apr 2025 13:30:30 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/60640-the-perils-of-trumps-federal-reserve-ploy Time Is Short for Trump to Further Modify or End His Tariff Blitz The perils to the construction industry remain.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/60562 Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:06:42 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/60562-time-is-short-for-trump-to-further-modify-or-end-his-tariff-blitz From Vietnam War to Climate Change: ENR Award Reflects Changing Times kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) There are several times in their work lives when journalists try to say something important to readers—and one of those for ENR editorial staff is the profile of the annual Award of Excellence winner,


]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/60513 Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/60513-from-vietnam-war-to-climate-change-enr-award-reflects-changing-times Why the Expiring Tax Break for Engineers Must Be Renewed The section of the federal tax code known as 199a will expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress approves an extension.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/60455 Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/60455-why-the-expiring-tax-break-for-engineers-must-be-renewed Federal Disruption and Public Works The first modern Golden Age of federal public works investment involved building the nation-changing Interstate Highway System starting in 1956, declared finished in 1992. What many considered the second was developed by the Biden administration and authorized by Congress to renew transportation infrastructure and propel transition to.more energy sources—but its fate now is unclear.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/60301 Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:45:00 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/60301-federal-disruption-and-public-works A Critical Turning Point for AEC Professionals Snapped high above bridges, cramped inside tunnels and safely away from demolitions, photos force a rapidly changing industry to stand still.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/60239 Fri, 31 Jan 2025 09:00:00 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/60239-a-critical-turning-point-for-aec-professionals Undefined Deportations Raise Many Questions It didn’t even take until Election Day to try to redefine the planned mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/59871 Thu, 21 Nov 2024 10:10:00 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/59871-undefined-deportations-raise-many-questions Trump’s Migrant Deportation Plan: Cutting Through Noise and Confusion How will mass deportations play out in construction?

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/59777 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:32:06 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/59777-trumps-migrant-deportation-plan-cutting-through-noise-and-confusion How Small Grants Make Big Safety Differences kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) Milwaukee County, Wis., basically decided “we have a problem” when it came to road and traffic safety.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/59713 Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:50:00 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/59713-how-small-grants-make-big-safety-differences The Life-and-Death Differences Small Infrastructure Grants Can Make An editorial on why small infrastructure investments do more good and matter so much to more people than you think.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/59478 Thu, 10 Oct 2024 17:25:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/59478-the-life-and-death-differences-small-infrastructure-grants-can-make NYC Congestion Pricing Plan: Down But Not Out II's time to loosen the governor's grip on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to keep critical infrastructure investment from falling behind.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/58839 Wed, 19 Jun 2024 14:46:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/58839-nyc-congestion-pricing-plan-down-but-not-out Construction of the Pentagon Was an Unprecedented Effort lewisw@enr.com (Scott Lewis) In this selection of construction history from the ENR archives, a look at the successful rush to build in the middle of World War II what at the time was the world's largest office building.

 

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/58818 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/58818-construction-of-the-pentagon-was-an-unprecedented-effort What the CHIPS Act Will and Won’t Do A commentary with perspective on the $39 billion program.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/58815 Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/58815-what-the-chips-act-will-and-wont-do Why the Federal Noncompete Rule Is Regulatory Overreach The new Federal Trade Commission mandate delivers a blow to thousands of small and large businesses trying to protect their own trade secrets as well as investments in employee training and customer contacts. That challenge does not need a fresh overlay of federal law.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/58692 Wed, 22 May 2024 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/58692-why-the-federal-noncompete-rule-is-regulatory-overreach Safety Week: Open Ears To All Worker Voices kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) Now 10 years old, Construction Safety Week has evolved. What at first was a national industry stand-down to emphasize safety compliance has grown into a coordinated five days of training and advocacy. 

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/58538 Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:06:55 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/58538-safety-week-open-ears-to-all-worker-voices Heading Up and Down the Escalator of Life kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) Wars and political tensions are escalating, and so is migration. Also on the rise are expectations that artificial intelligence will transform life and business as we know it.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/58164 Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/58164-heading-up-and-down-the-escalator-of-life ENR Reflects on 150 Years of Construction Industry Coverage blairs@enr.com (Scott Blair) ENR has evolved over the years to deliver industry coverage, products and platforms in formats that best fit the needs of the people who work in the AEC community. 


]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/58066 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 16:30:00 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/58066-enr-reflects-on-150-years-of-construction-industry-coverage Expect 2024 to Be An Industry Thrill Ride There could be plenty of climbs, dips and swerves.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/57913 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:40:00 -0500 https://www.enr.com/articles/57913-expect-2024-to-be-an-industry-thrill-ride ENR Data Editor Visits Remote Canada Site for Project Update kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) Jon Keller’s official title at ENR is associate editor, surveys and rankings, and he collects and interprets much of the global construction sector data that pours into ENR.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/57186 Thu, 28 Sep 2023 08:25:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/57186-enr-data-editor-visits-remote-canada-site-for-project-update Beware of Simplifying Maui’s Full Fire Reality kormanr@enr.com (Richard Korman) Some unrealistic thinking is creeping into the public perception of last month’s devastating Maui, Hawaii, fire.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/57110 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/57110-beware-of-simplifying-mauis-full-fire-reality Who Canceled the Recession? Worried about the yield curve? Maybe the positives outweigh the negatives.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/56927 Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:50:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/56927-who-canceled-the-recession Texas Heat Safety Retreat Shows Need For National Rule A commentary that says while  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed new state legislation that strips its cities and counties of some independence, more may be at stake for workers.

]]> http://www.enr.com/articles/56709 Wed, 28 Jun 2023 14:00:00 -0400 https://www.enr.com/articles/56709-texas-heat-safety-retreat-shows-need-for-national-rule