The 2025 Report Card on America’s Infrastructure, released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), rates U.S. infrastructure as a C, improving from the previous C grade in 2021, largely due to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act of 2021. However, critical components such as dams, levees, stormwater, and wastewater systems received alarming grades of D to D+, raising significant concerns, especially regarding climate change’s impact on these infrastructures.
The report underscores that due to increasing precipitation, flood-related economic losses are rising by $2.5 billion annually. Aging infrastructure exacerbated by frequent storms has led to failures, with over 30 dams in the Midwest nearly collapsing since 2018. The cost to repair U.S. dams is estimated at $165 billion, with over 2,500 classified as "high risk."
Levees also face challenges, with $70 billion needed for renovation and an average age of 61 years. Meanwhile, about 70% of wastewater and stormwater systems are underfunded, estimating future funding needs at over $690 billion by 2044, while current funding lags significantly behind.
ASCE emphasizes the need for smart infrastructure investments that consider future climate extremes, warning against projects that do not strategically protect communities from disasters. The discussion highlights the importance of wise infrastructure spending to avoid unnecessary future liabilities and ensure resilience against climate change impacts.
