County Countdown – June 17, 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.

In this special edition, NACo has compiled resources – from analysis to toolkits – related to pressing issues in three key areas: budget reconciliation, executive actions and federal appropriations for fiscal year 2026.


Budget Reconciliation​

Last month, the U.S. House passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). The legislation now moves to the Senate, where changes to the text are anticipated.

NACo continues to closely monitor the budget reconciliation process, with a focus on key county priorities – including health care, social safety net programs, immigration policy, and the extension of provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Below are key resources and updates on these critical issues.

Budget Reconciliation Bill
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Medicaid
Tax Policy
Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization/Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT)

​Executive Actions​

During the first few months of his second term, President Trump has issued a record number of executive orders, surpassing those of any previous president over the same time period.

NACo is closely monitoring these actions to assess their implications for counties. Read below for key updates and analysis.

Sanctuary Jurisdictions
Federal Funding Freezes
FEMA Reform
Broadband/Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program

​Federal Appropriations

In parallel with the budget reconciliation process (which applies to mandatory spending and revenue) Congress is undertaking its annual appropriations process for discretionary spending, which began with the president's budget request.

NACo is tracking proposed increases, cuts and eliminations around key federal programs important to counties and advocating for the inclusion of county priorities in appropriations bills.

Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Budget
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Through NACo, advocate for county priorities in federal policy making. Find our latest advocacy toolkits, federal policy analysis and more.

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Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, October 16

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week ten 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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Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, October 30

Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week eleven 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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Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader’s Perspective

Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.

When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.

This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.

Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.