County Countdown – March 25, 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.
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.
House Natural Resources Committee advances Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act
On November 20, the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources advanced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776), which would make important changes to streamline federal permitting and strengthen county involvement in decision-making by amending the National Environmental Policy Act. Counties support commonsense permitting reforms, and NACo secured provisions in the SPEED Act that would guarantee counties a seat at the table during federal environmental reviews.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency releases new definition of the “waters of the United States”
On November 17, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a proposed rule defining what constitute the “waters of the United States” and are subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act. The new definition is narrower than previous rules and codifies the decision of U.S. Supreme Court in the 2023 case Sackett v. EPA.
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.
County Countdown – Nov. 17, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership.
Restoration efforts turn former Texas oil field into flood buffer and wildlife sanctuary
Harris County, Texas helped purchase the land to restore a former oilfield, creating a buffer for flooding.
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.
What to Expect from the Current Supreme Court Term: Cases Impacting Local Government
Hosted by the Local Government Legal Center (LGLC), join legal experts in a discussion of the new Supreme Court term and what decisions local governments should watch.
Investing in Tomorrow: Jones County's Blueprint for Financial Innovation
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Counties today face increasing pressure to make every public dollar count. Success depends not only on smart financial strategy, but also on strong communication across departments, with the community, and with the board of commissioners. Join Jones County Manager, Kyle Smith, Finance Director, Blake Batchelor, and three+one's Mike Abbott for a 30-minute conversation on how proactive, data-driven liquidity management is helping them plan more confidently, respond faster, and build trust throughout their community.
Attendees will hear how Jones County, N.C.:
- Adopted a forward-looking approach to liquidity and cash-flow forecasting through adopting cashVest by three+one
- Strengthened collaboration across departments and with county leadership • Modernized policies and systems to support future planning
- Communicated strategy and results to commissioners and residents
- Used real-time financial insight to pursue grants, capital projects, and long-term priorities
This session will provide practical guidance that county leaders can apply immediately, whether they are reviewing their investment policy, preparing for capital needs, or working to strengthen transparency with their governing board and community.
Register today to learn how a modern, collaborative approach to liquidity strategy can create value for your organization and the people you serve.
For more information, visit the event page!
Modern Networks, Smarter Budgets: A County Leader's Perspective
Join us for a fireside chat with Orleans County, NY, as they share how their team successfully transitioned from a traditional capital expense (CapEx) model to an operational expense (OpEx) model for network services.
When faced with rising maintenance costs and an expiring carrier contract, the county seized the opportunity to modernize its network and lock in predictable monthly costs. By bundling connectivity services with unified communications, they achieved immediate savings of over $124,000, eliminated recurring charges such as long-distance fees and third-party integration costs, and gained access to operational upgrades like call analytics and auto-attendants.
This shift not only strengthened financial planning through fixed monthly expenses but also freed up IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives.
Key takeaway: Rethinking your budget model can be just as impactful as upgrading your technology — delivering fiscal stability and enhanced services for your community.
FAA-NACo Airport Land Use Compatibility
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 | 3:00 p.m. - 4:300 p.m. ET
Counties play a crucial role in our nation’s aviation system, owning and operating hundreds of airports across the country. And even in places where the county may not own the airport, county planning departments and development organizations work to maximize the value of this asset to the community’s economic and overall wellbeing. Join NACo and staff from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports Planning and Programming to learn more about the FAA’s “Advisory Circular on Airport Land Use Compatibility Planning,” which will enable counties work smarter to integrate airports into broader planning efforts for land use, economic development and more. FAA staff will also be available to answer questions from county leaders about planning needs in their community and how the Advisory Circular can guide those efforts.
Speakers:
- Jacqueline Essick, Associate Director, Jacobsen|Daniels
- Amber McNair, Founder & Principal Investigator, AV McNair, LLC
- Michael (Mike) Hines, Manager of Airports Planning and Environmental Division, FAA
- Jean Wolfers-Lawrence, Manager of Environmental Planning Branch, FAA
Inside Washington: County Impacts from the White House & Congress, December 11
Join NACo’s Government Affairs team for week thirteen 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.
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