Equitable Governance: 2022 NACo DEI County Convening, Strategies for Governing with Equity
The National Association of Counties hosted a full-day diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) county convening before NACo’s 2022 Annual Conference to discuss the importance of equity in governance and how to strategically align efforts at the county level. The convening brought together over 50 participants from over 20 counties who sent a team comprised of a DEI practitioner, county administrator and elected official. Throughout the convening, attendees discussed the unique challenges and opportunities they see in their distinct roles and explored how to advance the principles of DEI by considering community data differently. Equitable Governance: 2022 NACo DEI County Convening, Key County Roles, Opportunities and Strategies for Governing with Equity lays out key takeaways from the convening.
County News
County News Spotlight: DEI Strategies
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces actions to combat PFAS contamination
On April 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new suite of upcoming actions to address contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These measures, outlined by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, aim to strengthen scientific understanding, enhance enforcement and build partnerships with impacted communities, including counties and other local governments.
NACo sends letters to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging support for county priorities in surface transportation reauthorization
On April 30, NACo submitted three letters to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee outlining county priorities as Congress begins work on the next surface transportation reauthorization. The current authorization is set to expire on September 30, 2026, and renewing it is a key priority for the Committee in the 119th Congress.
NACo testifies before Congress on brownfields revitalization
On May 7, Oswego County, N.Y. Clerk Terry Wilbur testified on behalf of NACo before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment at a hearing titled “Cleaning Up the Past, Building the Future: The Brownfields Program”.
County Countdown – May 6, 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
DOJ terminates justice and public safety-focused grants
On April 22, the U.S. Department of Justice’s largest grant-making arm—the Office of Justice Programs—abruptly cancelled hundreds of grants awarded to county governments and other local jurisdictions and organizations. Approximately 365 grants have been identified for termination, which were estimated to be valued at $811 million at the time of awarding; it is unclear how much funding remained at the time of termination.
White House releases FY 2026 Budget Request: Top Highlights to Counties
The President’s budget requests cutting non-defense discretionary funding by 23 percent, amounting to $163 billion, and proposes a 7.6 percent spending cut to discretionary spending.