Progress is being made, albeit slowly, regarding the state of the nation’s infrastructure. This was made clear in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) “2025 Report Card for the Country’s Infrastructure,” which was issued earlier today.
This report, which ASCE releases every four years and was first published in 1998, has consistently assessed the state of U.S. infrastructure, which has underperformed for most of the time since the report’s inception.
In its most recent assessment of U.S. infrastructure, the country received a C grade. While this may initially seem underwhelming, it represents an improvement compared to recent reports, with 2021 receiving a C- and 2017 a D+. It also marks the highest grade U.S. infrastructure has ever received.
The ASCE report evaluates 18 categories, with nearly half of them showing improvement, along with gains in some of the historically lowest-graded categories. The report uses a school report card format, assigning grades and providing recommendations to raise those grades. This process is overseen by ASCE’s 52-member Committee on America’s Infrastructure, which consists of national civil engineers and infrastructure professionals.
Looking at grades with a focus on freight transportation and logistics, the report issued the following grades: Aviation, D+; Bridges, C; Inland Waterways, C-; Ports, B; Rail, B-; and Roads, D+.
“The new grades in 2025 demonstrate that investment in infrastructure makes a difference,” said Darren Olson, Chair of the ASCE Committee on America’s Infrastructure, during a media briefing. “Landmark federal infrastructure legislation has initiated tens of thousands of critical projects across the country. The 2021 Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) was the largest comprehensive infrastructure spending package in U.S. history, totaling $1.2 trillion in infrastructure investments over five years, with more than $550 billion of that funding allocated to brand-new programs. Investments in resilient infrastructure have consistently been proven to be an effective use of limited public dollars, as they reduce costs in the long term—especially by minimizing rebuilding needs after a significant event. By adopting the most up-to-date codes and standards, communities will be better equipped to handle disasters and will most responsibly deploy public resources.”
ASCE stated that this legislation was a key factor in the improvements seen in the 2021 report card, including robust resources for water infrastructure, transportation, and other areas.
Furthermore, the report explained that in the years following, IIJA investments and policy changes are driving performance improvements for water, energy, and waste networks—with almost half of the grades used for assessment in this year’s report showing increases. However, it cautioned that while improvements are evident, a significant investment gap remains, noting that the shortfall continues to grow as existing infrastructure systems age and demands on them increase.
This investment gap was emphasized by Darren Olson, who said the Report Card projects an investment gap of $3.7 trillion between 2024 and 2033, compared to the $2.59 trillion gap identified in the 2021 Report Card.
“Funding laws like IIJA have proven to be major achievements in jumpstarting our ability to close these investment gaps and revitalize America’s infrastructure,” he said. “More must be done. Failing to close the infrastructure investment gap brings serious economic consequences. Each American household currently loses $2,700 per year due to poor infrastructure. If we continue at current federal investment levels, we can reduce that loss to around $2,000 per year. Investing in infrastructure is an investment in American jobs, people, and the economy.”
Regarding how to protect the U.S. economy and address the growing infrastructure gap, Olson explained that ASCE urges sustained investment that prioritizes resiliency and aims to raise the national infrastructure grade over the next four years. He added that advancing policy and embracing innovation are critical to ensuring the nation’s infrastructure improves and remains strong.
From a funding perspective, and following the February pause on IIJA funding by the White House earlier this year, Olson said things appear to be on the right track.
“We have seen improvement with the last two report cards, and the key to that is building on the momentum we have now,” he said. “It’s easy to talk about the benefits of infrastructure investment. It saves American families $700 a year and builds a more efficient economy. So much of what we do in the United States—whether in manufacturing, technology, or global competitiveness—relies on a foundation of infrastructure. I believe when we speak with our elected officials about the benefits we’ve already seen from these investments and what it could mean going forward, it’s really going to resonate with them.”
