Welcome to the July edition of Blakely Brown Insights!

As summer heats up, so does the momentum here at Blakely Brown. In this month’s edition, we’re thrilled to share some exciting updates: including the expansion of our Miami office just four months after launch, key insights from the proposed 2026 U.S. fiscal budget (and what it means for the engineering market), and a spotlight on our expanding M&A advisory services.

With 2025 now well past the halfway mark, it’s the perfect moment to reassess your hiring strategy and growth objectives for the remainder of the year. Whether you're building a team, exploring acquisition opportunities, or simply looking for industry guidance, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Thanks for tuning in,

The Blakely Brown Team

New Miami Office

Just four months after officially opening our Brickell office, the team have already upgraded to a bigger and better space! With more new joiners landing next month and our Co-Founder Jacob making the big move stateside, it felt like the perfect moment to upgrade. Our Miami presence is still very much in its infancy, but momentum is strong. We’re excited to see how our U.S. footprint evolves over the next 12 months, and how many new colleagues will be part of the journey by this time next year.

If you’re considering your next opportunity in executive search and want to be part of a fast-growing international firm, we’d love to hear from you. Send your resume to antonia@blakelybrowngroup.com to explore current openings.

Potential Cuts in Fiscal 2026 Spending Bill

Congress is progressing with fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills totaling $1.6 trillion ($45B less than FY2025) with notable implications for engineering and infrastructure sectors. The EPA, USDOT, and Dept. of Energy all face major cuts, while defense, veterans, and homeland security receive protection or increases.

Key infrastructure programs, especially those involving water/wastewater and transportation, are affected by deep reductions or redirection of funds, despite long-term needs exceeding $1 trillion.

As Congress moves forward with FY2026 spending bills, major shifts in federal funding are set to impact the engineering landscape across the U.S. While defense and military construction see increases, critical infrastructure sectors like water, transportation, and energy face substantial cuts. Here’s what matters most:

For Engineering Recruiters:

1. Water/Wastewater Hiring Will Tighten EPA’s revolving funds for water and wastewater projects are facing 20–26% reductions. Fewer public projects mean leaner hiring pipelines, especially in municipal infrastructure.

2. Private Sector Experience Is Gaining Value With public funding under pressure, engineers with private utility or design-build backgrounds are becoming more attractive to firms looking to diversify project portfolios.

3. Transportation Funding Is Being Rebalanced Although overall DOT funding is down, highway and airport projects remain well-supported. Talent in civil, traffic, and safety engineering will continue to be in demand.

4. Renewables and R&D Hiring May Slow Cuts to DOE and ARPA-E suggest a pullback in federal clean energy investment. Recruiters should focus on firms with state or private renewable energy initiatives.

For Engineers in the U.S.:

1. Fewer Public Water Projects on the Horizon EPA estimates $1.25 trillion in long-term water infrastructure needs, but current funding falls short. Engineers may want to shift toward private-sector roles or O&M positions.

2. Transportation Engineers Should Watch the Mix Expect stronger demand in highways, airports, and safety-focused work. Transit and rail professionals, especially in the Northeast, should monitor how Amtrak cuts unfold.

3. Military Construction Is a Growth Area The Senate’s MilCon bill supports nearly 300 new projects, including housing, bases, and infrastructure. Engineers with DoD, federal, or design-bid-build experience will be key players.

4. Energy Sector Engineers May Need to Pivot With deep cuts to clean energy and nuclear remediation, engineers should explore opportunities in grid modernization, hydropower, or resiliency-focused projects backed by local agencies.

M&A Services

In addition to delivering premium Executive Search recruitment services, Blakely Brown also offers specialized Merger and Acquisition (M&A) search solutions. We facilitate strategic connections between prospective buyers and firms that are exploring the opportunity to sell and benefit from the support, scale, and resources of a larger organization.

If you, or your company, are considering acquiring a firm in the U.S., or if you are exploring the sale of your own business, we invite you to reach out to a member of our team for a confidential conversation.

For more information, feel free to contact us directly at ryan@blakelybrowngroup.com.