County Countdown – April 7, 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.
Budget reconciliation could reshape county services
Budget reconciliation remains the top item on our radar screen, with significant impacts expected for counties. Congress is moving forward with competing budget proposals that could impact programs related to health, infrastructure and public safety.
- New Senate plan: Sets a $1.5 trillion tax cap and includes a $5 trillion debt ceiling increase – an unprecedented shift in fiscal policy.
- House plan: Proposes $4.5 trillion in deficit reduction and $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, potentially affecting Medicaid and county services.
- County advocacy: NACo is undertaking extensive Hill outreach to protect key local priorities.
Major HHS restructuring announced
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last month that it will consolidate divisions, cut jobs and restructure services, impacting how counties interact with federal health programs.
- New agency structure: Twenty-eight divisions become 15, regional offices shrink from 10 to five and 20,000 jobs will be cut.
- Service disruptions: Counties may face delays in funding, support and regulatory input as a result of this transition.
- Reduced engagement: New policy limits public comment to legally required instances, diminishing local voices.
Federal rulemaking shifts for Waters of the U.S.
From climate to clean water, regulatory changes are underway during the Trump administration’s first 100 days – many with direct county implications.
- WOTUS narrowed: New EPA and Army Corps guidance for Waters of the U.S. limits federal jurisdiction to wetlands with direct surface connections.
- Infrastructure impact: Stormwater, green infrastructure and water reuse systems could be affected.
- Ongoing advocacy: NACo insists local perspectives be reflected in all new rulemaking, as counties are both regulators and regulated when it comes to WOTUS.
Executive order targets county-run elections
A new executive order proposes major changes to election rules that would significantly affect county election officials – many of whom manage elections in their states.
- Key mandates: The executive order includes calling for proof of citizenship for voter registration, making ballots due by Election Day and implementing Department of Homeland Security voter roll reviews.
- Tied to federal funding: States must show “reasonable steps” to secure elections or risk losing funding.
- Local burden: Counties must adjust systems and staffing with limited resources ahead of 2026 elections.
Municipal bonds under threat
NACo is working to protect the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds – an essential tool for financing local infrastructure.
- Big cost risk: Repealing the exemption would raise borrowing costs by $823 billion.
- Wide usage: Over 61,000 small projects under $10 million used tax-exempt bonds in the past decade.
- New support: A “Dear Colleague” letter led by Congressman Don Bacon is circulating – counties should ask their congressional representatives to sign on.
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.
HHS announces major restructuring
On March 27, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a sweeping reorganization that will consolidate agencies, shift key programs under a new framework and eliminate thousands of positions. This change brings HHS in line with President Trump's Executive Order, “Implementing the President’s ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.”
EPA & U.S. Army Corps of Engineers revise Waters of the United States (WOTUS) definition
On March 12, the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a joint memorandum outlining the next steps to revise the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) definition under the Clean Water Act. This follows the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA, which limits the EPA’s regulatory authority over wetlands without a “continuous surface connection” to traditional navigable waters.
Both the Administration and Congress act on 'noncitizen voting:' What this could mean for counties
The U.S. House will consider the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act this week to require individuals to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Municipal Bonds Advocacy Toolkit
America’s counties use tax exempt municipal bonds to invest in roads, bridges, public transportation, ports, libraries, police stations and more. Preserving the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds will ensure counties can build critical local infrastructure for residents without burdening taxpayers with higher costs.
Related News
U.S. Congress pass minibus funding package
U.S. House and Senate appropriators passed a “minibus” appropriations package containing Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Interior-Environment, Commerce-Justice-Science and Energy-Water spending bills.
Federal district court issues ruling preventing the federal government from imposing immigration compliance mandates on grant recipients
On November 4, a federal judge in Rhode Island ruled that the U.S. Department of Transportation cannot condition federal grant funding on a recipient’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Congress examines PFAS liability and cleanup regulations
On December 18, the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing examining the current statutory and regulatory landscape for PFAS. The hearing follows a similar hearing held by the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on November 19.
Upcoming Events
Advocacy 101 for Counties: Maximizing Your Impact During the NACo Legislative Conference
Learn how to prepare for Hill meetings, effectively advocate for NACo priorities, and translate county experiences into clear federal policy asks.
The Current State of Student Debt and Forgiveness
This webinar is designed for county HR and leadership teams seeking practical ways to support employees struggling with student debt.
Over 9 million public service workers, including full-time county employees, are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Yet fewer than 3 percent have successfully received relief.
The issue is not eligibility. It is awareness, complexity, and follow-through.
Please join us as we speak with student debt forgiveness expert Tony Raffa, who will clarify today’s student debt landscape, including:
- What recent policy and executive actions mean for public sector employees
- How Department of Education changes affect forgiveness eligibility, timelines, and compliance
- Which student debt relief programs do employees actually qualify for today
- The current status of the SAVE program
- Common application errors that delay or derail forgiveness
- Rising delinquency and repayment restart risks
- What HR teams need to know about collections, wage garnishment notices, and employer responsibilities
Attendees will also see how a new student debt navigation tool helps employees estimate their potential forgiveness, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce annual payments by an average of $2,244.
For HR teams, this means a scalable way to offer meaningful financial support without adding administrative burden.
What to Know Before You Go to NACo’s Legislative Conference
Join NACo’s Membership Chair and staff to learn ways to maximize your experience at the NACo Legislative Conference.
Advocacy Hub
Through NACo, advocate for county priorities in federal policy making. Find our latest advocacy toolkits, federal policy analysis and more.