America’s infrastructure is the foundation on which our national economy, global competitiveness, and quality of life depend. While often taken for granted when it is working properly, every American household or business immediately feels the impact of just one inefficiency or failure in our built environment. Our infrastructure includes an interconnected system of highways, streets, public buildings, mass transit, ports, airports, inland waterways, water systems, waste facilities, the electric grid, broadband networks, dams, levees, and other public and private facilities. Maintaining these networks is essential to meet economic demands and protect public health and safety. For American families and businesses to thrive, we need a first-class infrastructure system that moves people and goods safely, sustainably, efficiently, and affordably by land, water, and air; energy transmission systems that deliver clean, dependable, low-cost power; and water systems that reliably and safely drive industrial processes, as well as the daily functions of our communities.
Since 1998, ASCE has issued a quadrennial assessment of the United States’ infrastructure networks, known as the Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. For more than two decades, the message behind the unflattering grades was consistent: federal, state, and local governments, in addition to the private sector, have not been prioritizing our interdependent infrastructure systems. In sum, the bill on our infrastructure systems was past due. We needed to reverse the nation’s growing infrastructure investment gap to remain competitive in the global marketplace, allow local businesses to thrive, and keep our families safely connected. That message grew louder with each evaluation, through our most recent Report Card release in early 2021.
However, in late 2021, the trend began to change. Congress passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the most comprehensive federal investment in the nation’s infrastructure in U.S. history. The law included many of the solutions to raise the grades featured in ASCE’s 2021 Report Card, including robust resources for water infrastructure, transportation, and related areas. A few years later, IIJA investments and policy changes are already improving the performance of our transportation, water, energy, and waste networks. As a result, nearly half of the grades are increasing for the 18 categories we assess in this 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. This forward momentum is due in large part to the actions of the federal government in partnership with state and local governments and the private sector.
Unfortunately, while significant advancements are being made, we still face a substantial investment gap. The shortfall grows as existing infrastructure systems continue to age and demands on those systems increase. In addition, passage of the IIJA has shed light on key issues affecting our industry. Projects should be modernized or replaced by prioritizing resilience to withstand extreme weather. Resilience-focused measures may add to upfront costs but save on sudden, less predictable, and large financial impacts from disaster-related damages. Infrastructure projects take a long time to develop, and stakeholders may hesitate to pursue resilient designs without assurances that current funding levels will be sustained in the future. These are just a few of the challenges we continue to face.
The 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure provides a snapshot of how our infrastructure systems are faring and offers solutions for improving the performance of each category. For the second consecutive report, Report Card grades show that U.S. infrastructure is trending in the right direction thanks to comprehensive support, innovative solutions, and bold leadership. Continued action will further improve these networks, unlocking the full potential of our nation’s economy and creating opportunities for all Americans.
