B.L. Harbert Sues Trump Administration for $461 Million Over 12 Embassy Projects

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 28

B.L. Harbert filed suit Wednesday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, seeking at least $461.1 million over 13 denied claims tied to 12 diplomatic construction projects across four continents.
The contractor says the State Department told it in 2020 to keep embassy work moving through COVID-19 disruptions, continue shipping materials and document extra costs instead of pausing under excusable-delay clauses.
Harbert alleges career officials reached a $370 million settlement in September 2025, but the government paid only $501,636 before political leadership reversed the deal and contracting officers began denying claims in July 2026.
The disputed projects include sites in Turkey, Iraq, Thailand, Morocco, Mexico and Central America; Harbert says the U.S. has already taken possession of all 12 facilities and used some for more than three years.
Harbert, awarded about 60 embassy and consulate projects since 1999, warns the fight could further thin a contractor pool that sometimes draws only two or three qualified bidders for secure overseas diplomatic work.