Make America Skilled — But for Whom?
The Remodeling Rundown
A roundup of industry news from Pro Remodeler's editors and their chatbot buddies. All summaries are checked by professional editors.
Source: NPR, The Sunday Story — "Trump administration says skilled trades are the future. But how do women fit?" Feb 1, 2026
The big picture: Anti-DEI may roll back decades of gains
The Trump administration is championing skilled trades as the backbone of America's economic future, but its aggressive rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies is jeopardizing decades of progress for women in construction. Women in the trades describe meaningful gains over the past decades—safer jobsites, maternity leave, harassment reporting systems—but worry those improvements could stall or reverse. Veteran tradeswomen say the loss of targeted recruitment and support will make it harder to bring new women into the field and new skilled workers to jobsites.
What's changing: Feds not encouraging women in trades
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Federal requirements for contractors to track hiring disparities and make good-faith efforts to recruit women have been rescinded.
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Funding and partnerships tied to DEI are being cut, threatening organizations like Chicago Women in Trades.
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Unions and contractors fear legal risk for maintaining women-focused programs, leading some to shut them down.
The White House argues that eliminating DEI would clear the way for "merit-based hiring" and a broader "golden age" of skilled labor, but has offered no specific plan to ensure women are included in that future workforce.
Why it matters: Construction labor crisis
Fifty percent of the population still makes up less than 5% of the trades workforce. Programs that helped women enter and stay in these high-paying jobs—often funded or encouraged by the federal government—are now losing support or facing legal uncertainty. That means fewer skilled tradespeople to build America.
Roofer's Injuries 'Inconsistent' with "Running Into a Brick Wall While Handcuffed"
Source: ABC News / Associated Press, Jan 31, 2026
Big picture: The facts don't add up
A roofer hospitalized in Minneapolis with severe skull and brain injuries became the focus of a dispute between health care workers and Immigration and Customs Enforcement over how he was injured while in federal custody. Nurses and doctors said the injuries were inconsistent with ICE’s initial explanation, highlighting growing tension between hospital staff and federal immigration officers during heightened enforcement activity in Minnesota.
The deets: Roofer brutalized, hospitalized, released
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ICE agents initially told hospital staff that the roofer, Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, ran headfirst into a brick wall while handcuffed, a claim nurses said could not account for the extent of his skull fractures and brain bleeding.
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Medical staff, an outside physician, and a forensic pathologist said injuries on multiple sides of his skull and widespread hemorrhaging were inconsistent with an accidental fall or collision.
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ICE officers stayed at his bedside for days and restrained him in ways hospital staff said violated facility policies, leading to confrontations over shackling and patient care.
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Hospital employees reported feeling intimidated by ICE’s presence, prompting new internal protocols and reminders that restraints require medical necessity.
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A federal judge ordered Castañeda Mondragón released from ICE custody more than two weeks after his arrest; he was later discharged from the hospital with significant memory loss and a long recovery ahead.
Why it matters: Adds volatility to business and life
Local builders say heightened enforcement activity is already disrupting residential construction in Minneapolis, with subcontractors refusing to work, crews avoiding jobsites due to safety fears, and schedules beginning to collapse. One roofing crew cited in a recent business leaders call raised rates by 30%, reflecting labor scarcity that is pushing prices higher and timelines further out. Builders also raised concerns about jobsite liability and insurance responsibility when enforcement-related incidents occur, adding another layer of risk and cost for residential projects.
The source: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/ice-claim-man-shattered-skull-running-wall-triggers-129728439
Remodeling Growth is Slower Than Inflation
Source: Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Remodeling Growth Set to Downshift in Late 2026 by Rachel Bogardus Drew, January 26, 2026.
Big picture: remodeling growth will slow but still rise through 2026
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies projects that annual spending on home improvements and maintenance will continue to grow in 2026 but at a decelerating pace. Growth in year-over-year remodeling and repair spending is expected to ease from around 2.9 percent early in the year to 1.6 percent by year’s end, while total homeowner spending is still forecast to hit about $522 billion.
The deets: Remodeling is a dimming bright spot
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The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) anticipates slower expansion in renovation and repair spending through 2026, with growth dropping from 2.9 % to 1.6 % over the course of the year.
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Single-family home sales and permitting activity have risen modestly from very low levels, which should sustain a nominal increase in remodeling activity overall.
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Despite the slowdown in growth rates, homeowner expenditures on improvements and maintenance are still projected to reach about $522 billion by the end of 2026.
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Remodeling activity trends remain closely tied to broader housing market health, including interest rates, construction activity, and building materials sales.
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Methodological adjustments were made to the LIRA due to delayed and missing data from the 2025 federal government shutdown.
Why it matters: Growth isn't keeping pace with inflation
This outlook suggests that while the remodeling sector will continue to expand in absolute spending through 2026, the pace of growth is slowing, reflecting broader housing market headwinds such as subdued single-family home sales and elevated costs. For industry stakeholders — including remodelers, suppliers, and policymakers — the forecast underscores a transition from the post-pandemic surge toward more modest, incremental growth. This has implications for business planning, labor demand, and investment in housing improvements, particularly as the health of the remodeling market remains closely tied to interest rate movements and overall housing market dynamics.
The source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/remodeling-growth-set-downshift-late-2026
ICE Surge Disrupts Construction in Minnesota
Source: Finance & Commerce, ICE surge chills Minnesota construction industry, slows projects by Brian Johnson, January 20, 2026.
Big picture: ICE is freezing construction
A surge in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Minnesota is prompting many construction workers — including those with legal authorization — to stay home, slowing project timelines across the industry. The increased enforcement presence has also strained worker-employer relations and reduced reporting of workplace violations.
The deets: Anxiety is high, especially in residential
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Migrant tradespeople, including workers with valid work permits, are increasingly reluctant to show up at jobsites due to fear of detention, contributing to project delays.
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Worker anxiety is diminishing reporting of wage theft and other workplace violations, undermining efforts to combat labor abuses.
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Reports include the detainment of an asylum-seeking union member with full legal work authorization and the alleged racial profiling of workers by ICE.
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Smaller contractors in homebuilding and specialty trades appear disproportionately affected as crews stay home and projects pause.
Why it matters: There is a housing crisis in the US
The ICE surge is disrupting Minnesota’s construction sector by exacerbating existing labor shortages and chilling workforce participation at a time when migrant labor is a critical component of the industry. These dynamics may ripple through housing and commercial development markets that rely on a stable and visible workforce.
The source: https://finance-commerce.com/2026/01/minnesota-construction-ice-surge-slows-projects/