Department of Transportation cancels more than $300 million in funding for Mass. megaproject

A $2 billion megaproject that was set to create more than 3,000 union jobs in Massachusetts, including for SMART sheet metal workers, is under threat after Congress passed the 2025 tax bill, which President Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.

General President Coleman’s statement on White House budget office encouraging the use of project labor agreements

On June 12, the White House budget office encouraged federal agencies to use project labor agreements on construction jobs. The guidance includes potential exceptions to avoid the use of PLAs and does not require PLAs on projects over $35 million. “These major energy projects were creating jobs for SMART members and American construction workers. Now, after the Department of Energy’s announcement, those jobs have been taken away,” said SMART General President Michael Coleman. “That’s bad for our members, our families and our country. We’re urging the Department of Energy to reverse this decision and put American workers back on the job.”