Washington, D.C. – June 3, 2025 – Today, North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) President Sean McGarvey issued the following statement:

“The Department of Energy’s announcement to terminate 24 awards issued by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) is the last thing blue-collar American construction workers need to hear right now. Cutting more than $3 billion worth of major energy projects – on top of an already softening construction employment market – sends a stunning and troubling signal to thousands of these skilled workers, both those currently working on these projects and those standing ready to deploy to these facilities. Now, these hardworking, American blue-collar workers will be forced to report to the unemployment line instead of job sites. 

“At a time when America’s energy demand is rising exponentially, it is clear why a nation engaged in a soft war with China over data centers, AI, and advanced technologies desperately needs this power to protect its national interest and remain the world’s economic leader. This move suggests America is waving the white flag of surrender to China and ceding ground in the global energy and technology race.

“On behalf of America’s skilled, blue-collar workforce, we respectfully urge President Trump to reverse this decision and let construction workers and NABTU’s highly skilled members do what they do best: build the energy infrastructure our country needs—and help us defeat China to keep America on top of the world’s economy.”

 

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