A comprehensive report released every four years regarding the state of America’s infrastructure assigned a “C” grade on Tuesday, marking a slight improvement from earlier evaluations, primarily due to the investments made during former President Joe Biden’s tenure.
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, which analyzed various infrastructure components like roads, dams, drinking water, and rail systems, the report cautions that it is essential to maintain or increase federal funding to prevent further degradation and rising costs.
“We are witnessing the benefits of these investments, but there remains significant work ahead,” stated Darren Olson, chair of this year’s report. He emphasized that failing infrastructure—ranging from bad roads harming vehicles to delayed flights and power outages affecting food stores—adversely impacts both individuals and the economy.
“By investing in our infrastructure, we are bolstering our economy, enhancing its efficiency, and improving our global competitiveness,” he added.
This report was notable for being the first without any categories graded as D-minus, as highlighted by CBS News senior transportation and national correspondent Kris Van Cleave.
According to Van Cleave, eight categories experienced grade increases, many of which had languished at D-minus or D for an extended period.
Olson pointed out the crucial need for infrastructure to withstand more severe weather conditions due to climate change, referencing last year’s hurricanes that devastated the East Coast and parts of Appalachia. The U.S. experienced 27 weather disasters last year, each costing at least $1 billion, marking the second-highest total since 1980.
The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated $550 billion for new infrastructure projects, but this funding is set to conclude in 2026. Additionally, $30 billion was provided by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act for initiatives focused on clean energy and addressing climate change, according to the engineering group.
The Trump administration has criticized certain green initiatives introduced by Biden. Public parks saw an upgrade to a C-minus from a D-plus, partly due to substantial investments made over several years. However, the Trump administration has recently sought to cut staffing at the National Park Service.
Massive spending needed
In 2021, the overall grade for the U.S. infrastructure was C-minus. The recent investments, however, cover only a small portion of the estimated $9.1 trillion required to restore the country’s infrastructure to adequate condition.
Even if current federal funding for infrastructure is maintained, there will still be a $3.7 trillion shortfall over the next ten years, as stated in the report.
For instance, the total cost to upgrade and maintain the country’s approximately 50,000 water utilities is estimated at $625 billion over the next twenty years, according to federal estimates. The drinking water category remained at C-minus, unchanged from four years ago.
Many communities already grappling with aging drinking water systems face new mandates to replace lead service lines and limit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the water supply.
“The infrastructure bill has helped initiate or complete numerous significant projects,” stated Scott Berry, director of policy and governmental affairs at the US Water Alliance. “Yet the investment gap has widened so considerably over the past couple of decades that substantially more funding will be necessary.”
The bill also allocated billions to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in modernizing inland waterways, which transport approximately $150 billion in goods annually, leading to an improvement from a D-plus to a C-minus grade.
Barges on the Mississippi River, for example, transport vast quantities of coal, soybeans, corn, and other raw materials to international markets. However, essential infrastructure such as locks and dams—many of which were constructed over fifty years ago and require regular maintenance—often goes unnoticed by the public, making it easier to neglect, according to Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition.
Moreover, large projects are often funded in phases, requiring pauses until additional funding is secured, which escalates costs for materials and labor.
“To maximize taxpayer dollars, it is essential to ensure more predictability and reliability in funding these projects,” he remarked.
According to Clifford Winston, a microeconomist at the Brookings Institution, the report’s emphasis on engineering and financial aspects overlooks the need for policies that could enhance how people utilize and pay for infrastructure.
Winston noted, “You’re not making the best use of your existing resources.” He cited congestion pricing recently implemented by New York City—charging individuals to drive in congested areas—as an example that could alleviate some pressures, encouraging less driving and reducing the demand for new bridges, tunnels, and repairs.
Road conditions remain persistently poor, receiving a D-plus compared to a D in the last evaluation, despite an influx of $591 billion in investments since 2021.
The aviation sector also scored a D-plus, as noted by Van Cleave.
Two categories, rail and energy, received lower grades. The train derailment incident in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023 caused rail’s grade to drop from a B to a B-minus.
The energy sector, which is under pressure from increasing demands from data centers and electric vehicles, received a D-plus, down from C-minus.
Invest now or pay more later
Engineers caution that many issues across various sectors have persisted for so long that the nation must devise strategies to address these shortcomings now, or face the costs when systems ultimately fail.
A delegation of engineers is set to visit Washington on Wednesday to discuss funding implications and the “importance of maintaining that investment,” according to Olson, who believes these needs are a bipartisan concern.
“When we frame it in terms of how better infrastructure saves money for American families and fosters economic growth, we are confident that … there will be strong support,” he remarked.
