County Countdown – April 21, 2025
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Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
ARPA reporting deadline next week
Next Wednesday, April 30, is the deadline for counties to submit Project and Expenditure Reports for the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
- Required for all counties: To remain in compliance with the reporting requirements, all counties must submit a report, including counties that have already spent their entire ARPA allocation.
- Detail is key: When submitting the Project and Expenditure Report, provide as much detail as possible to ensure Treasury officials have a clear picture of how funds were obligated to support communities and residents.
- NACo is here to help: If you have received a notice of noncompliance, please reach out to NACo for support.
Congress moves forward on reconciliation
Both the House and Senate have adopted budget proposals. Counties are closely monitoring the potential impacts of the reconciliation process on local priorities, including the preservation of tax-exempt municipal bonds.
- Support for county priorities: Last week, 12 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to House leadership expressing concerns over major cuts to Medicaid, and a bipartisan Dear Colleague letter also in the House shared support for preserving the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds.
- Timeline: Congress is looking to move quickly on this reconciliation process, with the goal of delivering a reconciliation bill to President Trump by the end of May.
FEMA announces cancellation of disaster mitigation funding
On April 4, FEMA announced it will not allocate $750 million this year for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The cancellation follows a broader review of FEMA grants and a recent executive order by President Trump emphasizing state and local responsibility for disaster preparedness.
- What is BRIC: Counties are directly eligible for BRIC, which funds hazard mitigation projects aimed at reducing long-term disaster risks and costs.
- County impact: The cancellation of BRIC funding could lead to disruptions to or cancellation of county projects, additional costs for counties and reduced capacity for long-term risk reduction.
- NACo action: While FEMA continues to evaluate its overall grant portfolio and priorities, NACo and our Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force remain committed to modernizing federal disaster policies; strengthening intergovernmental partnerships; and enhancing local disaster mitigation, response and recovery capacities.
HHS terminates funding for mental and behavioral health programs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has terminated funding for at least five county-eligible federal health programs previously set to run through September 2025.
- Impacted programs: The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant Supplement and the Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Supplemental Grants – both of which counties rely on to provide critical prevention and treatment services for substance use disorders – are examples of impacted programs.
- Impact on local public health: The abrupt loss of funding affects the stability of local public and behavioral health systems, including 988 crisis call centers, prevention initiatives and community health worker programs.
Congress considers reauthorization of county cybersecurity program
Authorized under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the State and Local Cybersecurity Program (SLCGP) provides critical funding to state and local governments to enhance cybersecurity readiness and protection. The $1 billion program is set to expire on September 30, 2025 unless it is reauthorized by Congress.
- Benefits to counties: The SLCGP requires state recipients to pass through 80% of funding to local governments, strengthening counties’ cybersecurity readiness and ability to respond to and protect against cybersecurity threats.
- Take action: County leaders should reach out to their members of Congress to urge them to reauthorize the program and ensure continuity of funding for critical cybersecurity efforts.
What Counties Need to Know: ARPA SLFRF Reporting Deadline
As counties continue to implement projects under the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, accurate and timely reporting remains critical. To support counties in preparing their 2025 Annual or Q1 Project and Expenditure (P&E) Reports – due April 30, 2025 – NACo has developed the below frequently asked questions (FAQs) guide.
U.S. Congress begins work on budget reconciliation process: What this means for counties
The House and Senate Budget Committees have marked up Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget resolutions to initiate the budget reconciliation process to enact policy priorities without garnering bipartisan support, although the two chambers differ in their approach to drafting the legislation.
Federal judge temporarily halts BRIC grant program termination
August 6, 2025 Update: A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from reallocating funds from FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program after 20 states sued to halt the move, arguing it would endanger communities by undermining disaster preparedness efforts.
HHS issues termination notices for health grant funding
On March 25, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent letters to state authorities and counties with direct grant funding announcing the immediate termination of several pandemic-related grants, which was previously set to run through September 2025.
U.S House Subcommittee Considers Reauthorization of the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program
The SLCGP provides critical funding to state and local governments to enhance cybersecurity readiness and protection but is set to expire on September 30, 2025.
Congress passes short-term funding bill, keeping the federal government funded through Dec. 11 and delaying OMB rule
The U.S. Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to extend government funding through December 11 and delay the OMB proposed rule on Unform Guidance that governs how every federal grant can be administered.
Counties Call on Congress to Advance Federal Disaster Reform During National Preparedness Month
To mark National Preparedness Month, counties are urging Congress to advance a set of federal disaster reforms so counties can better respond to and recover from disasters.
Counties Eligible for $787 Million in DOT PROTECT Grants to Build Disaster-Resilient Surface Transportation
Counties are eligible for federal PROTECT grants that fund projects engaged in building surface transportation systems that are resilient to weather events natural disasters.
DOJ announces $211 million in grants for county criminal justice systems focused on reentry and mental health treatment
The Department of Justice announced $211 million in grant opportunities for counties to improve their criminal justice systems, specifically reentry, substance use, crisis response and behavioral health programs.
NACo sends letter to Congressional leadership asking them to reauthorize or extend key programs
NACo sends letter to Congressional leadership asking them to prioritize reauthorizing or extending key programs for counties ahead of September deadline
Protect County Operations from Email Attacks: Live Webinar Demo
Email remains the leading entry point for cyberattacks—and one compromised county inbox can disrupt essential services, expose sensitive information, and undermine public trust.
Join us for a practical webinar and live demonstration exploring why counties need layered email security that protects messages both before and after they reach an employee’s inbox. You’ll learn how secure email gateways and API-based protection work together to combat phishing, credential theft, account takeover, malicious link redirects, and supplier compromise.
From Data to Decisions: Using AI to Improve Digital Government Services
Government agencies have more data than ever before, but turning that information into clear priorities and measurable outcomes remains a challenge. Disconnected systems, competing demands, and limited resources can make it difficult to know how to improve resident experiences.
Join Granicus for a discussion on the challenges and opportunities of measuring and improving digital experiences and engagement, along with a look at how agencies can use AI-powered insights to make smarter decisions for their community.
NACo CLEARR Cohort Application Optional Information Call
NACo is launching a year-long virtual opportunity for county law enforcement agencies to receive implementation support for a new recruitment or retention strategy and guidance on developing an evaluation framework to assess the impact.
More Choices, Stronger Counties: Introducing NACo Public Promise Insurance Supplemental Benefits
- Dental
- Vision
- Life
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-Term Care
- Worksite (Critical Illness/Accident/Hospital/Cancer)
- Pet
- An overview of the Supplemental Benefits Trust structure and how it works
- Details on each available line of coverage
- How MetLife and Trustmark will support implementation and ongoing administration
- Next steps for counties interested in participating
- Chris Blanchette, National Director, Public Promise Insurance, National Association of Counties
2026 Fall Board of Directors Meeting and Building Better Futures: A County Leaders' Symposium on Youth Outcomes
Hosted by NACo President George Dunlap as part of his presidential spotlight, in partnership with NACo’s Board of Directors and Large Urban County Caucus, the event will focus on practical strategies and collaborative approaches that counties can advance at the local level—from proven prevention and early intervention models to cross-sector partnerships that align resources and expand opportunity.