Federal Advocacy Update November 4, 2025
Government Shutdown
Call to Action: How are Special Districts impacted by the shutdown?
Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, many of you are concerned about planning for your budgets, projects and complying with regulations. To help we’d like to hear from you.
CALL TO ACTION: We are conducting a brief survey to understand how the current federal government shutdown is affecting special purpose districts across the nation. Your feedback will help us share the real-world impacts with federal policymakers, strengthen our advocacy on behalf of local services, and ensure that the unique needs of special districts are clearly understood in Washington, D.C.
Deadline November 7th EOB. This survey should take 3–5 minutes to complete. Your responses will be kept confidential and reported only in summary form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1N0tBd1Rg1wxdoUyAPcCl-aTmLvxCHjLwHuufHdgITuY/edit
Ann Terry, President, National Special Districts Association and CEO of the Special District Association of Colorado recently released this statement on the Federal shutdown.
"Special districts, along with our partners in counties, cities, and towns, serve on the front lines of local governance, delivering the essential services that millions of Americans rely on every day. From protecting public health and safety to providing clean water, power, fire protection, parks, library services that serve as information hubs for communities across the country, and infrastructure such as attainable housing, water and sewer systems, and vector control, the collective work of nearly 40,000 special districts depends on strong and consistent intergovernmental partnerships.
The ongoing federal government shutdown threatens to disrupt this foundation. When federal operations lapse, the stability of community programs, infrastructure projects, and essential services is put at risk, affecting residents in every corner of the nation.
Special districts stand united with our local government partners in calling on Congress and the Administration to act swiftly and responsibly to restore government operations. A reliable and collaborative federal partnership is essential to sustaining the services and innovation that keep our communities strong and thriving."
House and Senate Action
House
The House is not in session.
Senate
This week, the Senate will seek to invoke cloture on the nomination of Eric Chunyee Tung to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Tung is a former law clerk to both Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch and the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Early Signs of Progress as Shutdown Nears Record Length
Last week, the Senate again rejected the House-passed short-term funding bill (H.R. 5371), marking the 13th failed vote and extending the government shutdown into its fifth week. If the stalemate continues beyond Tuesday, it will become the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.
In a notable development, Senate Republican leaders now plan to abandon the House-passed funding patch and instead draft a new Continuing Resolution (CR) that would allow more time to complete the fiscal year 2026 spending bills. The move reflects growing recognition that the House’s proposed November 21 extension would no longer provide sufficient time to finalize the 12 annual spending bills.
While the length of a new stopgap measure remains under discussion, lawmakers are also weighing ways to advance FY 2026 appropriations as part of a broader framework to reopen the government. One proposal would pair a short-term CR with a three-bill “minibus” spending package covering Agriculture, Military Construction–Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch, with a potential second package to follow that includes Defense, Labor–Health and Human Services, Transportation–Housing and Urban Development, and Commerce–Justice–Science.
Although there is cautious optimism that progress could emerge, key policy differences remain, particularly over how to handle the expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies, which are set to lapse at the end of the year. It should be noted that open enrollment began on Saturday, adding urgency for lawmakers to find a resolution.
Relevant Hearings and Markups
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Wednesday, November 5 | 10:00 a.m. ET | The full committee will hold a hearing entitled, "Registered Apprenticeship: Scaling the Workforce for the Future."
Senate Aging
Wednesday, November 5 | 3:30 p.m. ET | The full committee will meet to discuss the Older Americans Act.
Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Wednesday, November 5 | 2:15 p.m. ET | The full committee will meet to consider nominees to the Department of Transportation, including Ryan McCormack to be Under Secretary for Policy and Daniel Edwards to be an Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.
Thursday, November 6 | 11:00 a.m. ET | The panel will meet to consider nominees of the National Transportation Safety Board and Surface Transportation Board.
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Wednesday, November 5 | 3:00 p.m. ET | The committee will discuss the nomination of Glen Smith to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development.