County Countdown – March 25, 2025
Upcoming Events
Related News
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Congress averts a government shutdown
On March 14, the U.S. Senate passed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 (H.R. 1968) to extend government funding through September 30, 2025, following the U.S. House’s passage on March 11.
- Funding levels: The measure maintains FY 2024 funding levels into FY 2025, setting discretionary spending at $1.6 trillion, with defense funding at $893 billion and non-defense funding at $708 billion, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s caps.
- Key programs: This continuing resolution also includes program extensions and funding, such as TANF, NFIP, FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund, WIC and election security grants.
- County advocacy: Counties urge Congress to enact final FY 2026 appropriations by September 30, 2025, to avoid further disruptions and provide budgetary certainty for local governments.
Budget reconciliation negotiations
Negotiations between the U.S. House and Senate on a potential reconciliation package are ongoing, with significant proposals still on the table.
- Medicaid: Among the items under discussion are reforms to Medicaid that could impact local health and human services.
- Municipal bonds: Proposals to eliminate the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds – a critical tool counties rely on to finance infrastructure and essential services – are also being discussed.
- Take action: Contact your U.S. senators and representatives and advocate strongly to safeguard these vital programs and preserve the financial tools that support local communities and economies.
EPA announces a rollback of environmental regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to roll back more than two dozen rules and policies. Chief among the rules included is Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, a phrase used in the Clean Water Act to determine which waters are subject to federal jurisdiction.
- WOTUS: The definition of WOTUS directly impacts counties as owners and operators of water infrastructure. The Trump administration is seeking to implement a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act to limit jurisdiction over wetlands to those with a continuous surface connection to jurisdictional waters and not wetlands adjacent to a jurisdictional water.
- Other regulations: Other regulations under revision include those related to power plant emissions, vehicle emission standards and greenhouse gas findings.
- County impact: Counties could face increased challenges in maintaining clean air, safe drinking water and resilient ecosystems. The rollback of these federal standards may also shift greater responsibility and potential costs onto county governments as they work to fill regulatory gaps.
New White House executive order on natural disasters
On March 18, President Trump signed a new executive order that focuses on empowering state and local governments when it comes to disaster preparedness and infrastructure.
- What’s in the order: The order calls for the development of a National Resilience Strategy, the streamlining of federal policies on critical infrastructure, continuity of government and emergency response and the creation of a National Risk Register to better inform investments.
- Potential implications: For counties, this could mean increased authority—and responsibility—in managing things like wildfires, cyber threats and extreme weather events, while also requiring us to strengthen our capacity to plan, invest and coordinate disaster resilience efforts with reduced direct federal involvement.
- More from NACo: The NACo Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force was launched in November 2024 to strengthen our nation's disaster mitigation, response and recovery capabilities.
NACo's first 100 days membership series
NACo’s ongoing membership series offers weekly updates on the Trump administration and Congress’ first 100 days, focusing on policies directly impacting counties.
- Each week: NACo’s government affairs team dives into policies and actions that directly impact counties, including federal funding, regulations and intergovernmental partnerships.
- This week: Join us this Thursday, March 27 at 3:00 p.m. EDT.
- Full schedule: View the full schedule and watch recordings from past weeks here.
Congress passes “full-year” Continuing Resolution through September 30, 2025
On March 14, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 to further extend appropriations and avert a government shutdown through the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 on September 30.
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.
NACo Regulatory Analysis: The Waters of the United States
The definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) directly impacts county governments as owners and operators of local infrastructure.
White House signs executive order examining state and local preparedness
On March 18, President Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at aligning federal preparedness and response doctrines, while examining state and local preparedness capabilities. The order does not shift any responsibilities or costs to state and local governments, rather producing a set of recommendations for better collaboration across all levels of government.
NACo Membership Series: First 100 Days
Join NACo's membership series focusing on 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.
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.
Counties Advocate for Passage of FEMA Act Alongside National Preparedness Month
NACo recognizes September as National Preparedness Month, an opportunity to highlight the essential role of counties in preparing for and responding to disasters. Counties will advocate throughout the month for passage of the FEMA Act (H.R. 4669), which was approved last Tuesday by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a vote of 57-3.
FEMA reform bill advances to House floor
The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act would overhaul Public and Individual Assistance and accelerate mitigation programs and make the Federal Emergency Management Agency an independent, cabinet-level agency.
White House to halt federal funds to jurisdictions using cashless bail
On August 25, the White House announced an EO ordering an end to cashless bail and threatening to suspend or terminate federal funds to jurisdictions that do not comply with the order.
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.
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, October 2
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week nine 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.
Securing Coverage: How Counties Can Navigate Cyber Insurance Hurdles
Safeguarding counties from cyber attacks in today's complex digital environment is a formidable challenge, especially when faced with tight budgets, limited resources, and the competing demands of diverse stakeholders. Cyber insurance offers a crucial safety net, but many counties find themselves grappling with the affordability and management of such coverage.
Join us for an exciting discussion with experienced county leaders as we uncover the hurdles governments face in securing cyber insurance. We will explore the evolving cyber threat landscape and reveal how a comprehensive cyber insurance assessment can offer practical solutions to bolster defenses and streamline coverage acquisition.
Powering the Future: EV Charging Solutions for Public Agencies through NACo PPP
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Discover how to plug into the future efficiently and affordably. Join us for an informative webinar introducing NACo Public Promise Procurement's newest national contract for Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment and Services. Awarded to Lilypad EV by Lead Public Agency Broome County, New York, this contract offers streamlined access to cutting-edge EV infrastructure for counties and public agencies nationwide.
This webinar is brought to you by NACo EDGE, establishing people, purchasing, and performance cost-saving solutions that can be applied to counties nationwide. EDGE is owned by NACo, advised by county leaders and 100% focused on solutions for U.S. Counties. Learn more about NACo EDGE here.
For more information, visit the event page!
Advocacy Hub
Through NACo, advocate for county priorities in federal policy making. Find our latest advocacy toolkits, federal policy analysis and more.