Federal Government Shutdown Resource Hub
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Explore how the FY2026 federal government shutdown is disrupting county services nationwide, and access tools, data, and advocacy resources to help counties sustain essential programs and share their local impacts with Congress.
Update | Nov. 12, 2025
Congress votes to end longest federal government shutdown in history
On Nov. 12, the president signed into law a Continuing Resolution and funding package (CR) to end the shutdown of the federal government that began Oct. 1. The CR, which passed out of the U.S. Senate on Nov. 10 and the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 12, includes full year Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding for three of the twelve appropriations bills, and provides extensions of key agriculture, health, and other programs that expired at the end of FY 2025.
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How We Got Here
Congress has not enacted appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, resulting in a shutdown of the federal government. Essential services continue to operate, but many federal programs counties administer or rely on — including nutrition, health, and emergency response programs — are facing funding disruptions or staffing shortages.
Counties are on the frontlines of service delivery. When federal funding stops, counties must often use our own local resources to keep essential programs running, including public health, social services, and emergency management — with uncertainty about when or if federal reimbursements will be made once the government reopens.
Key Impacts on Counties
This section provides a high-level summary of affected programs and systems, with links to deeper NACo analysis.
- FEMA: While FEMA can continue to obligate and spend funds from the Disaster Relief Fund, counties should anticipate delays in reimbursement for ongoing or pending projects, particularly those tied to longer-term recovery and mitigation.
- Public Safety: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is unable to process new grant applications during the shutdown, creating fiscal uncertainty for counties working to sustain critical emergency management and public safety services.
- Forest Service: Limited staffing and suspended non-essential operations within the U.S. Forest Service may hinder wildfire response coordination, prevention efforts, and forest health programs.
- Cybersecurity: The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program expired on September 30, 2025, resulting in a lapse in new federal resources for counties to strengthen cyber resilience and protect local infrastructure.
- Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Funding was expected to lapse in October; however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reallocated $300 million from the Child Nutrition budget account, allowing operations to continue through approximately November 1. On October 24, NACo, along with 44 other national organizations, signed on to a letter to the White House calling for additional emergency funding. Without additional action from USDA or Congress, states and counties administering WIC will face benefit interruptions thereafter.
- SNAP: On October 10, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) indicated that current appropriations are insufficient to cover full November benefits and directed states to pause processing November issuances pending further guidance. Although a SNAP contingency fund exists, it is estimated to contain about $6 billion, which is less than the roughly $8 billion needed to cover one month of SNAP benefits. On October 24, FNS released a memo stating that they will not use the SNAP contingency fund towards November benefits. If the government shutdown continues beyond November 1, counties will experience program disruptions and increased demand on other local food assistance resources. For the latest, read NACo's blog on actions taken around SNAP in November.
- Community Health Centers: Funding for Community Health Centers (CHCs) — drawn from both annual appropriations and the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) – expired on September 30. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports that limited mandatory funds remain available to sustain operations temporarily. A prolonged shutdown, however, could result in reduced capacity and service interruptions in county and community-based clinics.
- Behavioral Health: Most Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) programs — including 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, State Opioid Response, and Mental Health and Substance Use Block Grants — are continuing operations using prior-year funds. Nonetheless, an extended shutdown could delay future grant cycles, create staffing uncertainty, and disrupt coordination for counties administering behavioral health and crisis services.
Learn More: NACo’s Federal Government Shutdown FAQ Page
Share Your County’s Story
NACo is collecting stories from across the nation to demonstrate the real-world impacts of the federal shutdown on counties and residents. Your input helps strengthen our advocacy with Congress and federal partners.
Advocacy Tools for County Leaders
Talking Points
- Counties are calling on the President and Congress to act swiftly and responsibly to fully reopen the federal government and restore the reliability county governments need to serve our residents effectively.
- Strong, predictable intergovernmental partnerships are key to sustaining programs and services for county residents.
- The ongoing government shutdown threatens to disrupt the consistent, reliable flow of resources and the important relationships we maintain with federal officials on the ground.
- While county governments continue to generate over two-thirds of our own revenue to provide services to residents, counties also receive $62 billion in intergovernmental revenue from the federal government.
- From ensuring our residents’ day-to-day safety, to undertaking infrastructure projects, responding to and recovering from disasters, administering federal programs for vulnerable populations and managing air, road and rail transit, county responsibilities often depend on federal, state and local resources and collaboration.
Template Letter to Congress: End the Government Shutdown
Urge Congress and the President to act swiftly and responsibly to immediately pass a bipartisan funding measure to restore stability to counties and the residents we serve.
Download Editable Template Letter (Word/PDF)
Contact your Representative | Contact your Senators
Media Monitoring: Tell Us If Your County Is in the News
If your local news outlet has covered how the shutdown is affecting your county, please share the link with NACo. These stories help inform our federal advocacy and communications with Congress.
Stay Engaged & Informed
Upcoming NACo Events and Updates
NACo will continue providing briefings and real-time updates on the shutdown’s impacts and legislative negotiations through our Inside Washington series.
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Resource
What Counties Need to Know When a Government Shutdown Happens
Census Bureau cancels key rural test sites ahead of 2030 Count
NACo advocates for the reinstatement of key decennial census testing of rural areas and other planned canceled testing criteria.
House Agriculture Committee advances 2026 Farm Bill
On March 5, the House Agriculture Committee voted to advance its version of the 2026 Farm Bill.
Congress reintroduces bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026
This winter, lawmakers in the House and Senate reintroduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026 (S. 3903, H.R. 7748) , building on prior efforts to strengthen federal rail safety standards following the high-profile 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in Columbiana County, Ohio.
Treasury proposes new privacy act records system for SLFRF and other federal assistance program data
Treasury proposes new database for the American Rescue Plan Act’s (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF).
National Association of Counties Launches Initiative to Strengthen County Human Services Systems
The National Association of Counties (NACo) announces the launch of the Transforming Human Services Initiative, a new effort to help counties modernize benefits administration, integrate service delivery systems and strengthen county capacity to fulfill our responsibility as America’s safety net for children and families.
Congress seeking ‘common-sense solutions’ to unmet mental health needs
Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.): “Right now, it is too difficult to access providers … and get mental health care in a facility that is the right size and also the appropriate acuity level to meet patients’ needs.”
Cyber Resilience in County Finance: Protecting What Matters Most
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Cyber threats are increasingly targeting public sector finance teams and resilience starts with understanding the risks. In this webinar, Peter Forsgren of three+one shares real stories from ethical hackers to explore social engineering, emerging cybersecurity threats and practical steps counties can take to protect their people, data and financial systems.
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!
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.
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, March 26
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.
Emerging Dynamics in the Pharmacy Marketplace: Direct-to-Consumer and Plan Sponsors’ Rx Benefits
Thursday, April 9, 2026 | 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This webinar will feature Josh Fredell, Senior Vice President, PBM, Payor and Life Science Solutions at CVS Health, who will provide an expert overview of the rapidly evolving world of pharmacy benefits. Key discussion points will include the impact of the Direct to Consumer marketplace and prominent entrants such as TrumpRx, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus model, GoodRx, and others, with a particular focus on GLP‑1 therapies.
The session will explore current industry trends, how plan sponsors are responding, and strategic considerations for navigating this shifting landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insight into market forces shaping consumer access, payer decision‑making, and future implications for benefit design.
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!
NACo Policy Insider Webinar Series: Understanding the Federal Landscape for Counties, April 9
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, April 23
Join NACo for a bi-weekly webinar offering an overview of the full federal policy landscape impacting counties.