County Countdown – Nov. 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.
1. Federal government shutdown ends
Congress passed legislation last week that ends the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. The bill funds most federal agencies through January 30, 2026, with full-year funding for three of the 12 annual appropriations bills – those impacting the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and military construction.
This legislation comes after NACo and other state and local government organizations jointly asked Congress on November 7 to reopen the federal government. Impacts for counties include:
- Sustained human services support: Provides $107 billion for SNAP and $8.2 billion for WIC through September 2026, along with reimbursement of contingency reserves depleted during the shutdown.
- Cybersecurity capacity: Extends the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program.
- Rural connectivity: Continues the Essential Air Service program to maintain rural air access.
- Health care stability: Reauthorizes key health programs, including a delay in Disproportionate Share Hospital payment cuts.
- Farm Bill: Extends the Farm Bill authorization through September 2026.
2. New rulemaking for web accessibility
The Department of Justice has announced plans for new rulemaking to lower compliance costs for its 2024 web accessibility rule, which required counties to meet new standards for county websites.
- The original rule required county websites, applications and online tools to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Level AA standards, which would have carried implementation costs of $1 billion nationwide.
- County commitment to accessibility: Counties remain committed to making local digital services accessible for all residents, and NACo has provided members with technical guidance, regulatory analysis and compliance resources.
3. Surface transportation priorities guide NACo advocacy
On November 5, NACo and the Local Officials in Transportation Coalition sent congressional leaders a letter outlining transportation policy priorities – this in advance of next year’s Surface Transportation Reauthorization.
- Counties and surface transportation: Counties and municipalities own 75 percent of public roads and 50 percent of bridges nationwide but receive only 15 percent of federal formula dollars.
- Advocacy priorities: The coalition is requesting an increased percentage of Highway Trust Fund dollars be suballocated to local governments, and is also advocating for funding for rural transportation planning so rural counties can benefit from federally funded planning opportunities.
- Next steps: With the current surface transportation bill set to expire September 30, 2026, this is likely to be an ongoing issue of interest for counties in the coming months – NACo's Surface Transportation hub is set up as an evolving home for resources and action items for counties.
4. Senate committee advances the Fix Our Forests Act
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted 18-5 on October 21 to advance the Fix Our Forests Act, bipartisan legislation strengthening active forest management to curtail wildfire risks.
- What’s in the bill: The bill simplifies environmental review for forest management, establishes a Fireshed Center — including local officials — to identify high-risk areas, and strengthens Good Neighbor Authority, allowing counties to reinvest revenues from joint federal land projects.
- Forest management: Additionally, it incentivizes treatment projects up to 10,000 acres, increasing management pace and scale.
- What’s next: The bill now awaits a full Senate floor vote, after which the differences in the House and Senate bills will be reconciled before the bill becomes law.
5. The Endangered Species Act and the gray wolf
On November 3, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced it would not develop a national recovery plan for the gray wolf, which is currently considered endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in much of the contiguous United States.
- The USFWS assessment,which determined that a nationwide recovery plan is no longer necessary for gray wolves, is consistent with previous federal agency findings that the species no longer warrants endangered or threatened species protection.
- County impact: Removing ESA designations would shift management of wolf populations onto states and counties, allowing for more flexible responses in accordance with local conditions.
Congress votes to end longest federal government shutdown in history
On November 12, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a Continuing Resolution and funding package (CR) to end the shutdown of the federal government that began October 1.
DOJ to Revisit Web Accessibility Rule, Aiming to Reduce Implementation Costs for Counties
DOJ has announced plans to explore ways to lower the cost of compliance with its 2024 Final Rule on web-based accessibility requirements for state and local governments.
NACo sends coalition letter on surface transportation priorities to congressional leaders
On November 5, NACo, in partnership with other members of the Local Officials in Transportation (LOT) Coalition, sent a letter to two key Congressional committees—the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Environmental & Public Works—outlining and reiterating the coalition’s top priorities for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill.
Bipartisan legislation encouraging active forest management advances in U.S. Senate
On January 23, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 471/S. 1462), also known as FOFA. Initially introduced by Representatives Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.), this bipartisan legislation will promote active forest management to curtail the wildfire crisis and protect rural communities, infrastructure and natural resources.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces it will not develop a recovery plan for the gray wolf
On November 3, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would not develop a national recovery plan for the gray wolf, which is currently considered endangered under the Endangered Species Act in much of the contiguous United States. The Service’s assessment, which determines that a nationwide recovery plan is no longer necessary for gray wolves, is consistent with previous federal agency findings that the species no longer warrant endangered or threatened species protection.
USDA and HHS release new dietary guidelines
On January 7, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. unveiled the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
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.
State of America’s Counties Address Highlights Intergovernmental Partnership, Cost and Administrative Shifts
NACo President J.D. Clark, national experts share insights at policy summit in Washington, D.C.
NACo President Clark: State of America’s counties is strong
Discussions led by county officials about transportation, energy, artificial intelligence development and disaster response and reform illustrated Clark’s position that counties are strong, but face challenges amid shifting state and federal policy.
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.
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, February 5
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, February 12
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, March 12
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
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