February 2, 2026
Latest News
Partial Federal Government Shutdown Underway
- Portions of the federal government are shut down for the second time in the past six months because Congress did not reach agreement on remaining FY26 appropriations bills before the Jan. 30 continuing resolution expired;
- The Senate passed an appropriations package Friday to fund federal agency budgets for the departments of Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS)-Education, and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the rest of the fiscal year, Sept. 30;
- The Senate separated funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) which, if enacted, would be funded for 2 weeks to allow Congress more time to work through concerns and disagreements over funding to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency;
- The House passed all the remaining FY26 appropriations bills Jan. 22, but with the changes made in the Senate late last week and separation of funding to DHS, the bills return to the House for consideration;
- The Jan. 26 APWA Washington Report included public works related FY26 appropriations highlights;
- U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) stated over the weekend that he is intending the House to vote on Tuesday;
- APWA Government Affairs will share ongoing updates through APWA Government Affairs on X and LinkedIn.
APWA Joins CABT Partners in Letter Against Bigger Trucks
- APWA is a longtime member of the Coalition Against Bigger Trucks (CABT), which is comprised of 26 national organizations representing law enforcement, fire safety, tow truck operators, local and state elected officials, labor, transportation and roadway safety professionals;
- With surface transportation reauthorization on the agenda for Congress this year, CABT sent a joint letter to House and Senate committee leaders weighing in against any increase in truck length or weights on our roads;
- Road safety and support for transportation safety programs are a key pillar of APWA’s policy priorities for transportation;
- CABT provides updated studies and helpful resources on its website, www.cabt.org.
APWA, Stakeholders Discuss Future of Water Infrastructure Programs
- APWA, local governments, and partner associations joined House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff to discuss Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) priorities;
- WRDA is a biannual piece of legislation that reauthorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers large infrastructure projects and programs;
- APWA shared relevant pieces of our water resilience policy priorities, highlighting specific programs that are also up for reauthorization in 2026;
- Draft WRDA language is expected in late spring.
President Trump Issues EO on California Wildfire Recovery Authority
- President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO), Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters;
- This EO would move authority of Los Angeles wildfire recovery from local and state authorities to the federal government;
- Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin was appointed by President Trump to oversee these efforts for the federal government;
- California state and local officials may seek to challenge this action.
CISA to Host Resiliency and Cyber Virtual Training Events
- The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will host an Emergency Services Sector Security and Resilience Awareness Webinar on proactive disaster recovery planning and preparedness, Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.;
- The link to join the webinar is at the top of the page; no registration required
- Later, CISA will host a virtual training, Understanding Indicators of Compromise Cyber Range Training Feb. 18 at 9 a.m.;
- To register for this event, click here
- This training opportunity is for government employees and contractors across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, as well as educational and critical infrastructure partners.
On the Horizon
(All times ET)
- Feb. 3 at 10 a.m., the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee is holding an executive session on pending nominations including multiple transportation positions and legislation, including a broadband bill, S. 2585;
- Feb. 3 at 10:15 a.m., the House Natural Resources Federal Lands Subcommittee will hold a hearing, Fix Our Forests-The Need for Urgent Action One Year After the L.A. Wildfires;
- Feb. 4 at 10 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing, Identifying and Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges to Protect America’s Water Infrastructure;
- Feb. 4 at 10:15 a.m., the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a hearing, Evaluating FirstNet- Performance, Accountability, and Reauthorization.
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