Weekly Briefing: July 25, 2025
- Socially Adept Solutions
- Jul 25
- 4 min read
Week of July 21, 2025
Congress Advances 2026 Budget with Cuts to EPA, Transportation, and Energy
Congress is shaping the 2026 fiscal budget with a $45 billion reduction from 2025, while maintaining full funding for defense, veterans, and homeland security.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s budget is being slashed by 23%, significantly reducing support for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, which has raised concerns about long-term infrastructure resilience.
Transportation programs face a $4.5 billion cut, with $4.4 billion redirected from previous infrastructure law allocations. Democrats warn this will negatively impact public transit and affordability.
The Senate’s version of the military construction bill set funding to $153.5 billion, an increase of $6 billion since 2025, supporting nearly 300 projects aimed at improving facilities for service members and veterans.
California Sues Trump Administration over Withdrawal of $4B in Funding from High-Speed Rail Project
California’s High Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration due to the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) decision to remove $4 billion in funding for the high-speed rail project intended to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The lawsuit, filed during the track-laying period of the high-speed rail project, asserts that the termination of the project was unlawful, politically driven and a threat to American jobs in the state.
The U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy cited notable delays and over-budget costs related to the project as justification for the termination of California’s unused federal funding, arguing that the project did not meet federal grant requirements.
The project has sparked partisan conflict: Democrats accuse the Trump administration of using the review to punish California, while Republicans argue the project is financially irresponsible and should be canceled.
July 18, 2025
Phenna Group, a UK-based family of businesses providing testing, inspection, certification, and compliance (TICC) services, backed by Oakley Capital, has acquired Briggs Engineering & Testing (Briggs, Briggs Engineering, Briggs E&T), a Massachusetts-based testing and inspection firm. The acquisition supports Phenna Group’s strategy to expand across North America. Eric D'Orio, Divisional Managing Director, Americas, for Phenna Group, commented, "Briggs Engineering's impressive track record and regional expertise make them a valuable addition to our global Infrastructure Division and the Americas Region. This deal aligns perfectly with our strategy to build a strong network of testing and inspection firms across North America, with a focus on local leadership and technical strength."
July 18, 2025
Azuria Water Solutions (Azuria), a Missouri-based provider of technology-enabled solutions for the water industry, and Inframark, a Pennsylvania-based applied technology and solutions company, specializing in water and wastewater infrastructure operations and maintenance (O&M) and community management services across the U.S, both backed by New Mountain Capital, have announced they are combining to form an independent water solutions and services platform. The combination creates a firm with anticipated revenue of more than $2 billion and more than 6,000 employees, with an end-to-end suite of solutions and technologies.
July 21, 2025
TKDA, a Minnesota-based 100% employee-owned company of engineers, architects, planners, and specialized experts, acquired CNA Consulting Engineers (CNA), a Minnesota-based engineering firm specializing in underground and geotechnical engineering. The acquisition bolsters TKDA’s underground and geotechnical engineering capabilities by integrating CNA’s employees and experience into the firm. CEO Jeff Lipovetz noted, “TKDA has built a legacy over the past 115 years by providing trusted engineering, architecture, and planning solutions. This acquisition will build on that legacy, strengthening our technical bench, broadening our ability to deliver exceptional results across all our markets, and ultimately providing more opportunities and value to the clients we proudly serve.”
July 22, 2025
Woolpert, an Ohio-based architecture, engineering, and geospatial (AEG) firm, backed by MSD Partners, acquired Dawood Engineering Inc. (Dawood), a Pennsylvania-based, 33-year-old infrastructure and geospatial technology firm with presence throughout the Eastern U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. The acquisition strengthens Woolpert’s transportation and utilities services while expanding its global presence. “We are incredibly proud to welcome the Dawood team to Woolpert. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Bony for more than a decade, and I’ve seen the innovative, nimble, and entrepreneurial approach he has taken to building the business,” Woolpert President and CEO Neil Churman said. “I am also thrilled for Woolpert to strengthen our presence in Pennsylvania.”
July 23, 2025
Sanbell, a Montana-based infrastructure engineering and design firm, merged with Core Design (Core), a Washington-based civil engineering, planning, and landscape architecture firm. The merger will lead to a 14-office, 300-person firm offering capabilities across the western United States. Sanbell Chief Executive Officer, Michael Sanderson, explained that “Core and Sanbell are such a great match. Not just because of our complementary geographies and services, but because our people first cultures and community focused approach line up perfectly. By joining forces, we aren’t just getting bigger, I truly believe this will make both firms stronger.”
Join us in welcoming Shi Qi Connolly to the EFCG team!
Shi Qi has joined us as a Senior Analyst on the Technology and Innovation team where she will play a key role in supporting our clients in technology strategy development and implementation engagements.
We’re excited to see how our clients will benefit from the expanded capabilities Shi Qi brings to the team.
Welcome aboard, Shi Qi! We’re thrilled to have you with us!
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.