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
MAHA Commission releases federal strategy outlining next steps in childhood chronic disease prevention
On September 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s new Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, following the earlier MAHA Report published in May 2025. The strategy builds on the assessment’s findings regarding four key drivers of childhood chronic disease: poor diet, chemical exposure, lack of physical activity and chronic stress and overmedicalization.
Paid training program helps staff a county park system
Modeled on the Civilian Conservation Corps, Erie County, N.Y.'s training and internship program aims to help fill vacant staff positions while offering the necessary training.
County Countdown – September 9, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features FEMA reform bill advancement, a major reorganization of the USDA and more.
Upcoming Events
Robert's Rules 102: Advancing Your Meeting Mastery for Effective Governance
Learn to minimize disruptions, establish proper procedures and apply Robert's Rules to real-life parliamentary examples.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, September 18
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week eight of a biweekly series on key developments from the White House and Congress. Discussions will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties — from federal funding and regulatory changes to intergovernmental partnerships. Tune in for an inside look at how these evolving federal dynamics may shape county priorities, responsibilities and operations.
New BRECC Toolkit: Coal Communities’ Pathways for Economic Diversification
Join the BRECC National Network to learn how coal counties are diversifying their economies through increasing housing supply, providing innovative workforce development opportunities and revitalizing downtowns.
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Through NACo, advocate for county priorities in federal policy making. Find our latest advocacy toolkits, federal policy analysis and more.