Local Builders Feel Pinch of Federal Buy America Rules Amid Housing Crunch

In Boardman, where new housing is desperately needed to support the region’s growing workforce, a well-intentioned federal law is creating unexpected headaches for developers and contractors. The Build America, Buy America (BABA) provision, which mandates the use of U.S.-made iron, steel, and construction materials for federally funded projects, is leading to significant delays and increased costs.

While major infrastructure projects like the Port of Morrow are directly affected, the ripple effects are being felt in residential construction. “The idea is sound, but the reality is a bottleneck,” says a local project manager who requested anonymity. “We’re waiting months for domestically produced electrical components and specific piping that we used to source readily. That delay stalls the entire job site.”

This comes at a time when Morrow County and the broader Columbia Basin are grappling with a severe shortage of affordable housing. Delays in publicly funded projects, including potential workforce housing initiatives, mean families and essential workers wait longer for homes. Furthermore, the scarcity and premium cost of domestic materials are driving up budgets, making some marginal projects financially unfeasible.

Local business leaders are calling for more flexibility or streamlined waivers for critical materials in short supply. “We fully support American manufacturing,” states a representative from the Boardman Chamber of Commerce. “But we need a pragmatic approach that doesn’t halt progress on the ground. Solving our housing crisis requires every tool in the shed, and right now, one of those tools is stuck in red tape.”

The situation places local officials in a tough spot, balancing federal compliance with urgent community needs. As delays mount, the conversation in Boardman is shifting toward how to adapt national policy to meet the stark realities of rural Oregon’s construction landscape.