February 2026 updates from the TRI Alliance for roofing professionals

By The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance.  

From immigration and labor policies to tariffs and federal funding, learn about the legal changes impacting the industry. 

As we get closer to April and the National Roofing Contractors Association’s annual Roofing Day in D.C., advocacy is top of mind for many professionals and leaders in the roofing industry. With pressing topics like tariffs and immigration, there’s a lot that needs to be discussed with the policymakers on the Hill. To learn about some of these issues specifically in relation to tile roofing, the Tile Roofing Alliance (TRI Alliance)’s lobbyist, Craig Brightup, shared a government relations update for February 2026.  

DHS shutdown  

Eleven of the twelve appropriations bills for FY26 have been enacted through September 30, but Senate Democrats balked at funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) over issues concerning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Consequently, a DHS shutdown has been in effect since February 13, which impacts the Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA, Secret Service and cybersecurity teams. ICE and Border Patrol are not impacted by the shutdown due to $75B in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.  

TRIA DC fly-in  

Plans are underway for TRIA’s Fly-In taking place April 13-16 in conjunction with Roofing Day in DC.  The TRIA Team numbers 12 and meetings on Capitol Hill and at the National Association of Home Builders are being finalized.  

Tariffs  

On February 20, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued a 6-3 decision that President Trump’s tariffs using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are not legal. In response, President Trump supplanted the IEEPA tariffs with 10% - 15% tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 which are limited to 150 days unless extended by Congress (which won’t happen). Thus, Sec. 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 and Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 will be used more extensively, and possibly Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930: 

The Trade Act of 1974, Sec. 122, empowers the President to impose tariffs of up to 15% to address balance-of-payment issues, but only for 150 days unless extended by Congress. 

The Trade Act of 1974, Sec. 301, and Trade Expansion Act of 1962, Sec. 232, have been used in President Trump’s first and second terms for tariffs but the U.S. Trade Representative must investigate before Sec. 301 tariffs can be imposed, and the Dept. of Commerce must do the same for Sec. 232 tariffs (steel, aluminum, copper), and the process for both can take many months to complete. 

The Tariff Act of 1930, Sec. 338, gives the President discretion for tariffs up to 50% when a foreign country has taken actions that disadvantage U.S. commerce, but the statute has been mostly unused and never been subject to legal challenge.    

Finally, with the SCOTUS decision silent on the issue of IEEPA tariff refunds, there have already been high-profile company lawsuits filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade. However, payment of such refunds could take a very long time.   

NLRB Joint-Employer rule  

On February 26, the National Labor Relations Board withdrew a Biden-era joint-employer rule and reinstated a 2020 rule from the first Trump Administration that establishes when a company is deemed a joint employer under federal labor law.  

DOL Independent Contractor rule  

On February 25, the Department of Labor (DOL) released a proposed rulemaking to rescind the Biden Administration’s independent contractor regulation and replace it with the regulation issued at the end of the first Trump Administration.  

EPA rescinds GHG endangerment finding  

On February 12, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revoked a 2009 endangerment finding that determined carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare, forming the legal basis for nearly all climate regulations under the Clean Air Act for motor vehicles, power plants and other sources. However, this EPA action only applies to auto emissions and fuel economy standards for now. 

For more information on the TRI Alliance and our Government Relations efforts, please visit our website at www.tileroofing.org.

Original article source: TRI Alliance