NACo and Federal Issues Archives

Read more about the article Federal Grant Cuts Put Maryland at Risk

Source: Tax Policy Center

Federal Grant Cuts Put Maryland at Risk

Federal grant uncertainty threatens to upend state and local budgets, as proposed cuts to programs like FEMA’s BRIC initiative and Medicaid jeopardize critical funding streams that counties rely on for disaster resilience, health services, and community development. Federal grants account for nearly 28% of state and local budgets nationwide. These funds support critical services like emergency management, public health, housing, and disaster resilience. According to the Tax Policy Center, any pause or new restrictions on…

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May 7, 2025

Emergency Management / Feature / NACo and Federal Issues

County Emergency Managers to Congress: Protect FEMA, Restore BRIC

Counties face growing threats — from extreme weather to infrastructure failure — and rely on strong federal partnerships to keep communities safe. This week, the MACo County Emergency Managers Affiliate sent two letters to Maryland’s congressional delegation, urging continued support for FEMA and the restoration of proactive federal mitigation funding. FEMA’s Role Must Remain Intact One letter affirms strong support for maintaining FEMA’s core mission, structure, and national leadership role in disaster preparedness and response.…

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May 5, 2025

County News / Information Technology / NACo and Federal Issues

NACo Launches Regional Forums To Equip County Leaders for Tech Future

Artificial intelligence can influence how counties deliver services, manage operations, and plan for the future. NACo’s new AI Regional Forums are designed to help local leaders make sense of what’s next. Artificial intelligence and generative AI (GenAI) are rapidly reshaping the public sector, and county governments are no exception. The National Association of Counties (NACo) is launching a new AI Regional Forum series in 2025, tailored for county elected officials, appointed officers, department heads, and…

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April 30, 2025

Energy / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues / Transportation and Public Works

EPA Moving to Cancel 781 Environmental Justice Grants

The EPA recently disclosed that the agency will be canceling 781 environmental justice grants nationwide. It is currently unclear how many are in Maryland, but many federal environmental programs support State and local enforcement efforts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently included, in a related legal filing, its plans to cancel 781 different grants relating to environmental justice programs. These grants, totaling over $1.5 billion, were primarily aimed at supporting projects that mitigate climate change…

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April 30, 2025

County News / Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues

FEMA Cancels Resilience Grants, Leaving Counties at Risk

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has abruptly canceled the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, halting hundreds of millions of dollars in disaster mitigation funding for state and local governments. The decision derails major projects across the country — including several in Maryland — and leaves counties with fewer tools to manage rising climate risks. Understanding BRIC Congress established the BRIC program in 2018 to create a reliable funding stream for state…

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April 29, 2025

NACo and Federal Issues

Register Today for the 2025 NACo Annual Conference!

The National Association of Counties (NACo) 2025 Annual Conference and Expo is scheduled for July 11-14 in the City and County of Philadelphia, PA. The NACo Annual Conference is the premier gathering of elected and appointed officials from the nation’s 3,069 counties, parishes and boroughs. Conference content includes discussion of federal policies impacting counties, workshops lifting up county best practices, engaging general sessions, mobile tours across our host county, and more. NACo members also have the…

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April 24, 2025

County News / Energy / NACo and Federal Issues / Taxes and Revenues

New Tariffs Could Reshape Solar Panel Market, Raise Uncertainty for US Projects

Federal trade officials have finalized steep new tariffs on solar components imported from Southeast Asia, concluding a year-long investigation into allegations of unfair pricing and subsidies tied to Chinese-owned manufacturers. According to The Hill, the decision targets companies operating in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam — countries that supplied the majority of solar products imported into the United States in recent years. The newly announced tariffs vary significantly by company and country, with some topping…

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April 24, 2025

Human Resources / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues

How Federal Workforce Cuts Threaten Stability in MD’s Communities

Counties that rely heavily on federal employment are starting to feel the strain of recent workforce reductions and uncertainty about decisions that may lie ahead. When state or federal policymakers make sweeping decisions, the effects often exceed the headlines and partisan talking points. This is evident in Charles and Prince George’s Counties, where recent federal workforce reductions are rattling local economic stability. Charles and Prince George’s counties are widely recognized as pillars of Maryland’s economic…

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April 23, 2025

Energy / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations / NACo and Federal Issues

White House Executive Order to Boost Coal and… Preemption?

On April 8th, President Trump signed three executive orders intending to boost the domestic coal industry. These new EOs also raise questions about federal preemption of state and county policy. As the Trump Administration implements its vision for the United States, counties can continue to expect significant shifts in federal policy. One of the most significant has been a refocusing on fossil fuels instead of renewable energy. When the Trump Administration took office, one of…

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April 23, 2025

Emergency Management / NACo and Federal Issues

Kettl: Feds Have Critical Role in Disaster Response

Donald Kettl, a one-time Dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy (and champion of the Academy for Excellence in Local Governance), offers views in Governing magazine that a proposed elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Administration would surely backfire as soon as its first true emergency situation. In a column on Governing, Dean Kettl offers his views on the realistic situation around federal response to emergencies, citing numerous incidents where the theoretical…

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April 17, 2025