Approved by the Infrastructure and Research Policy Committee on March 13, 2026
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on April 29, 2026
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 21, 2026

Issue

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports sustained funding for continued research in infrastructure resiliency to enhance our country’s ability to withstand and recover from natural and human-induced disasters. ASCE supports the development and implementation of national standards and engineering practices that advance the design, construction, operations, maintenance, and management techniques to increase the reliability, safety, security, resilience, and survivability of the nation’s infrastructure against natural and human-induced disasters.

Issue

Natural and human-induced disasters have repeatedly demonstrated the vulnerability of critical infrastructure systems. The United States government should address infrastructure vulnerabilities to make critical infrastructure safer, more secure, and more resilient. Critical infrastructure includes the physical systems, assets, and networks that are essential to the nation’s health, safety, security, and economic vitality. These systems, such as transportation, water, energy, communications, and other lifeline infrastructure, must be able to withstand and recover from a range of hazards. However, federal funding for infrastructure resilience research and standards development remains insufficient to identify, develop, and implement the most effective strategies for mitigating disasters. Such funding is essential to the nation’s infrastructure and to the health and safety of the nation and its citizens. 

Rationale

The civil engineering profession is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the nation’s infrastructure. As stewards of the built environment, civil engineers must continuously advance knowledge, technologies, and engineering practices that reduce vulnerability to disasters and improve infrastructure resilience. Thus, ASCE is obligated to assist with the development and implementation of new strategies and technologies for mitigating the impact of future disasters on the nation’s infrastructure. 

ASCE Policy Statement 493
First Approved in 2002