County Countdown – January 28, 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.


The first 100 days

President Trump and Vice President Vance were sworn in last week. Since then, the Trump administration has issued a series of executive orders addressing immigration, energy and the economy, among other issues with implications for counties.

  • NACo event series tracking first 100 days: To educate county leaders on how these policies may impact local governments, NACo has launched a weekly series on the administration's first 100 days.
  • Next session: The next webinar in the series is scheduled for Wednesday, January 29. Click here to register.

Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force fly-in

NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force, a group of 28 county leaders with wide-ranging experience, is meeting in Washington, D.C. this week.

  • Task force goals: The task force, launched late last year, has goals to help modernize disaster policies, enhance disaster resilience and strengthen intergovernmental partnerships.
  • Advocacy efforts: Task force members will take advantage of this week's fly-in to highlight counties' critical roles in disaster response and long-term recovery in meetings with Congress and federal partners.

SALT deduction profiles released

NACo has released new profiles showing the impact of the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap on counties and residents.

  • Why it matters: The $10,000 SALT cap, set to expire December 31, 2025, limits tax deductions and impacts funding for essential county services.
  • Call to action: Counties urge Congress to restore the full SALT deduction, ending a double standard that taxes homeowners differently from businesses and landlords and preserving critical services.

Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools

The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program remains unfunded after not being included in funding bills passed at the end of 2024.

  • Why it matters: SRS provides essential funding to over 700 rural counties for services like education, infrastructure and fire suppression.
  • What’s next: As SRS funds are depleted, NACo encourages county leaders to advocate for reauthorization to prevent budget shortfalls in timber counties.

Medicaid and counties

Since being signed into law in 1965, the Medicaid program has helped counties provide support to residents who are unable to afford medical care.

  • County contributions: Counties contribute to Medicaid in 24 states and the District of Columbia.
  • Intergovernmental partnership: Counties work with Congress to strengthen Medicaid, ensuring access to high-quality care while responsibly managing taxpayer dollars. Counties stand ready to partner with federal leaders to improve the nation’s health system.

Featured This Week

White House
Webinar

NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days, Week 1

NACo is launching a new membership series to provide timely updates and analysis on key developments during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. These calls will focus on policies and actions that directly impact counties, including federal funding, regulations and intergovernmental partnerships. Join us to stay informed on how these changes may shape county priorities and operations.

 

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Program

Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force

As disasters intensify across the country, county governments play a crucial role on the frontlines of emergency management and recovery. With a commitment to advancing federal policies that foster collaboration between counties, federal agencies and other intergovernmental partners, the Task Force builds on years of county-led efforts to enhance disaster policies and practices, driving improved outcomes nationwide.

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Advocacy

NACo releases new SALT deduction resource

Counties urge Congress and the Administration to restore the full SALT deduction to restore fairness in taxation and preserve essential local services

Related News

Former FEMA Administrator Brock Long (left) and Harris County, Texas Commissioner Adrian Garcia discuss FEMA reform efforts July 13 before members of the NACo Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Former FEMA chief is bearish on reform talks

Former FEMA Administrator Brock Long has yet to hear any proposals for federal disaster reform that would make a significant improvement to the way it operates.

Children play an educational game in the library at the South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center. Photo by Leon Lawrence III
County News

Public-private partnership creates ‘one-stop shop’ to improve community wellness

The South Philadelphia Community Health and Literacy Center is a “one-stop shop” the city and the children’s hospital created to improve community wellness and make it easier for people to get their needs met.

Texas National Guard troops use boats to search for survivors in Kerr County following floods that began in the region on July 4, 2025. More than 230 Guard personnel are working in three counties to clear debris and conduct search and rescue operations. Photo courtesy of the Texas National Guard
County News

Texas Hill Country floods kill more than 100 across six counties

Nineteen different local and state agencies are involved with the search and rescue efforts over six counties following flash flooding in Texas' Guadalupe River. 

Upcoming Events

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Webinar

Legislative Landscape: Prescription Drug Costs & County Impacts

Curious about Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) and how they impact your county’s pharmacy benefits? This webinar from NACo's Public Promise Insurance breaks down what PBMs do, why they matter to counties, and how new legislation may reshape the cost and delivery of prescription drugs.

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Webinar

Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, July 24

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week five 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.

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Webinar

Supreme Court Review for Local Governments: 2024-2025

Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the Supreme Court’s important decisions of the term impacting local governments.