With projections showing former President Donald Trump has retaken the presidency, the focus for construction observers now turns to the final tally in Congress.

The new Federal Trade Commission mandate delivers a blow to thousands of small and large businesses trying to protect their own trade secrets as well as investments in employee training and customer contacts. That challenge does not need a fresh overlay of federal law.

Federal agency rulemaking, particularly in environmental and workplace safety areas, is at core of conservative-backed legal challenge.

Employers say the change would give union representatives access to nonunion jobsites and create safety liabilities.

Proposed EPA mandate's reliance on hydrogen and carbon capture evoked concern in comments sent by an Aug. 9 deadline, but supporters say investment in clean transition approaches already are well underway. 

Unanimous FERC vote July 27 on final rule will prioritize the most construction-ready, financially-viable projects, but its effective date was not announced.

Justices could move to reduce power of U.S. agencies such as EPA and SEC to interpret rules under unclear federal laws based on 40-year-old high court precedent, but they opt not to intervene in the latest climate-change damage litigation against energy companies.

As the Biden administration ramps up efforts to include consideration of project greenhouse gas emissions impacts in policymaking, court developments and a March 24 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission action show a fluctuating path toward final carbon effect rules. 

If confirmed by the court's October term, the nominee would hear arguments on Day One on a key endangered-species case.

Executive order also revokes 2015 Obama directive establishing flood-risk standard for infrastructure projects.