Washington Report – January 26, 2026

January 26, 2026

Latest News

Senate Expected to Vote on Remaining FY26 Appropriation Measures This Week

The current continuing resolution expires Jan. 30, and multiple FY26 appropriations bills remain to be enacted;
The House passed a FY26 appropriations mini-bus last week to fund the remaining outstanding federal agency budgets for the departments of Defense, Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS)-Education, Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (HUD);
The minibus, if enacted, would fund the rest of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30;
Due to the large impact of winter storm Fern and the tense situation in Minnesota, the possibility of a partial government shutdown has increased;
APWA Government Affairs is monitoring the remaining appropriations bills and will be posting on X and LinkedIn;
Funding highlights for the agencies and programs impacting public works:
- $66B for DHS would provide:
  - $2.6B for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
  - $32B for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including $26.4B for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)
  - $226M for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
- Department of Transportation would receive $108.34B in overall funding, including:
- $64.32B for the Federal Highway Admin. plus $1B in advance appropriations for highway infrastructure programs authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
- $2.54B for transportation safety programs
- $542M for Motor Carrier Safety Grants
- $850M to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for Highway Traffic Safety Grants
  - APWA joined dozens of transportation focused partners last week in a letter to push Congress to pass FY26 DOT funding
- Department of Labor would receive $13.7B, including:
  - $285M to help the administration achieve its goal of 1M registered apprenticeships
  - $15M for cybersecurity workforce initiatives.

U.S. House Funds Job Corps Program

After the Trump Administration sought to wind down the Job Corps Program last April, the U.S. House included $1.8B for the program, which the U.S. Senate is set to vote on this week;
Multiple federal judges ruled the administration did not have the authority to disband the program and, ultimately, the Department of Labor allowed it to continue;
The legislation makes it more challenging for the administration to attempt to close job centers.

FEMA Review Council Extended through March 2026

President Trump has extended FEMA Review Council authority via an Executive Order (EO) until March 25;
The Council was expected to produce a report with recommendations on FEMA to the President before the end of 2025.

FEMA Releases Winter Ready Toolkit and Advisory Notice for Ongoing Winter Storms

FEMA has released its #WinterReady Toolkit along with resources related to Winter Storm Fern;
The toolkit provides messaging, graphics and resources to help communities protect lives and learn the risks of winter weather;
It also includes resources from FEMA’s #WinterReady Campaign page where communities can learn how to protect themselves from common cold-weather risks, including power outages, home heating fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and travel;
Sample messages that governments and community organizations can use to share info with their communities, as well as tools and information from other federal agencies, are also available;
- ICYMI: APWA CEO Scott Grayson and APWA President Vic Bianes shared resources in a message to members in advance of Fern.

FEMA’s NDEMU Open for Registrants

FEMA’s National Disaster and Emergency Management University (NDEMU) is accepting registrations for training courses at its National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland
- NETC courses are designed to strengthen capabilities for state, local, tribal and territorial government officials, emergency managers, first responders and community partners across the nation
- Courses for the first quarter of 2026 are listed on NDEMU’s Training Course Availability webpage.

CISA Releases Secure Connectivity Principles for Operational Technology Guidance

CISA has released its Secure Connectivity Principles for Operational Technology (OT) guide;
This guide outlines eight principles to design, secure, and manage connectivity into OT environments;
It is designed to help asset owners address increasing business and regulatory pressures for connectivity into OT networks.

APWA Attends Delaware Chapter Board Dinner

Government Affairs Manager Leah Harnish joined the Delaware chapter during its January Board Dinner in Milford;
The chapter celebrated the new year and the kickoff of its Public Works First Responders campaign.

On the Horizon

(All times ET)

Jan. 27 at 10 a.m., the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing, On the Front Lines of Connectivity-Examining FirstNet’s Role in Public Safety;
Jan. 28 at 10 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has scheduled a Part II hearing to Examine Federal Environmental Review and Permitting Processes;
Jan. 28 at 2 p.m., the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing, One Year After Disaster-Experts Weigh in on the Palisades Fire;
Feb. 5 at 3 p.m., NOAA and other federal agencies will host a webinar, Drought in the Midwest-Conditions, Outlooks, and Resources.