America's nearly 40,000 county elected officials and 3.6 million county employees are on the frontlines of the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic. As the country emerges from the pandemic and grapples with the toll it has taken on our citizens, counties are responding and rebuilding. At the same time, many counties are still confronting significant workforce shortage pressures at a time with growing, critical resident needs.

With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America's workforce, addressing the nation's behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.

Related News

Image of cn_webmoneymatters_2.jpg
Advocacy

NACo calls for OMB to extend public comment period for proposed rule overhauling sweeping changes to federal grants and hosts webinar with record attendance

On June 17, NACo joined NLC, USCM, ICMA, NCSL, CSG, GFOA, NADO, AMPO, and NARC in requesting OMB Director Russell Vought for a 45 day extension for public comments to OMB’s proposed revisions to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Part 200, Subtitle A, commonly referred to as Uniform Guidance for federal grants. 

USDA Building
Advocacy

U.S. Department of Agriculture announces reorganization

On July 24, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced a major reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that will relocate thousands of federal employees, restructure regional offices and consolidate administrative services and operations. The changes are expected to reduce USDA’s footprint in Washington, D.C. and shift more personnel to regional hubs across the country. 

FEMA
County News

FEMA at a crossroads: What county officials need to know about reform efforts

Two overlapping disaster recovery efforts are now unfolding in Washington: a sweeping executive-branch review of FEMA and a bipartisan legislative push to reform the agency through Congress. County officials should understand both tracks, what they could mean for local governments and where each stands today.

A powerful atmospheric river causes widespread flooding across Washington state in December 2025, damaging homes, businesses and major roadways.
News

Counties regroup after FEMA’s resiliency grant program resumes

As FEMA resumes and restructures its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, counties are reassessing projects that were put in limbo during its cancellation and creating new hazard mitigation gameplans ahead of its upcoming funding cycle. 

Thurston County, Wash. Commissioner Carolina Mejia answers a question during NACo’s Public Health Leadership Academy June 4 in Washington, D.C. To her right is Dr. Jen Freiheit, director of the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department. Photo by Charlie Ban
County News

Partnerships drive better community health, leaders say

Participants in NACo's Public Health Leadership Academy focused on building trust between public health professionals and elected leaders.