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U.S. Department of Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer has announced that she is stepping down from her role in the Trump administration to pursue a private-sector opportunity. Chavez-DeRemer previously served as a U.S. Representative for Oregons 5th District after being elected in 2022. Her public service career began locally in Happy Valley, Oregon, where she rose to the position of Mayor. During her time in Congress, she strongly supported workforce development initiatives, including implementing as passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Act and registered apprenticeship programs, which she often called the gold standard. She also maintained close ties with Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, collaborating on industry and labor priorities and visiting leading firm locations. Keith Sonderling will assume the role of Acting Secretary of Labor. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the Department, overseeing a $14 billion budget and a workforce of 16,000 employees. In that capacity, he managed strategic planning, budget formulation, financial management, information technology, and human resources functions. In 2025, Sonderling addressed the Construction Employers of America (CEA) Washington Leadership Conference on issues of mutual concern between CEA and the DOL. Sonderling brings extensive experience in both public service and private practice. He previously served as a Commissioner and Vice Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, where he focused on the implications of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles within the Department of Labors Wage and Hour Division and was a partner at the law firm Gunster, advising employers on labor and employment matters. SMACNA looks forward to continue working with Acting Secretary Sonderling and building on its partnership with the Department of Labor to advance policies that support a strong, skilled workforce and a thriving construction industry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially rolled out a new online portal that allows businesses to claim refunds on tariffs that were later ruled unlawful. The systemknown as CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries)is designed to handle what could become one of the largest government refund efforts in U.S. history. In total, roughly $166 billion in tariffs paid by more than 330,000 importers is eligible to be returned. Why refunds are happening The refund process stems from a February 2026 Supreme Court decision that struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The court determined that the tariffs exceeded presidential authority, forcing the government to return the money collected. How the new portal works Businessesor their customs brokerscan now submit refund claims through the CAPE portal by uploading detailed entry data tied to their tariff payments. The system supports: Bulk submissions with multiple entries Electronic verification and processing Automated refund payments once claims are approved CBP expects most refunds to be issued electronically, streamlining what would otherwise be a highly manual and time-consuming process. Early progress and scale So far, activity has already begun: About 56,000 importers have completed steps to receive refunds Around $127 billion (82%) of total tariff payments is eligible for electronic repayment Despite the early momentum, that still represents only a fraction of the total number of affected businesses. What companies should expect Even with the portal live, refunds wont be immediate. Most payments are expected to take 45 to 90 days after approval More complex claims could take longer to process There may also be technical hiccups as the system handles large volumes of submissions, with some users already reporting upload issues and delays on launch day. Will consumers see any money? Not directly. Refunds are being issued to the importers who originally paid the tariffs, not to consumerseven though higher prices may have been passed along. Whether shoppers benefit will depend on if companies choose to lower prices or return money voluntarily. Bottom line The launch of the CAPE portal marks a major step in returning billions of dollars in tariffs, but the process is just beginning. While the system is designed to handle claims efficiently, businesses should expect a gradual rollout, possible technical issues, and some waiting before funds are fully distributed. Click here for additional information on the program.

Register for the June 2026 Council Meeting Make your hotel reservation for the June Council Meeting View the Council Agenda At-A-Glance Please take note that this event is for Chapter Executives and Councilors Only! This biannual meeting is your opportunity to: Hear the latest updates on SMACNA initiatives and key industry developments Share your chapters perspective and ensure your voice is heard by peers and SMACNA leadership Participate in open forums, network with fellow representatives, and gain insights from SMACNA National staff, elected officials, and guest speakers Event Highlights Welcome Reception Evening of May 31 Meeting Sessions June 12 (1.5 days of content, discussion, and networking) In addition, we are still accepting topics for consideration during the meeting! Important Details: Topics may include items that result in recommendations to the SMACNA Board of Directors or are presented simply for Council discussion and information. To submit your topic, please complete this form and send it to Laurie Greene, lgreene@smacna.org by May 1, 2026. Only items submitted by the announced cutoff date will be included on the agenda. Topics submitted after the deadline will be deferred to the next Council meeting unless deemed urgent by Council leadership. Please note: Topics brought up during the meeting that were not on the original agenda will follow the rules adopted by the Council for non-agenda items. Any action on such topics will require a two-thirds affirmative vote of the voting councilors in attendance.

The Annual Funding Notice for 2025 for the Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund is now available for review. This notice provides key details for the plan during the plan year beginning January 1, 2025, and ending December 31, 2025. The notice includes information on the plans funding status and the benefit payments guaranteed by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Click here to read the Annual Funding Notice.

The Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) has released its 2026 annual Union Labor Costs in Construction Report. The report contains both general and detailed information on compensation for union craft workers in the construction industry. The data is presented for the nation in entirety, and includes nine geographic regions, and also contains historical trends and already negotiated future increases. SMACNA and other construction trade associations are active participants in the CLRC. Click here to review a copy of the 2026 annual Union Labor Costs in Construction Report.