March 9, 2026
Latest News
APWA Participating in NEMA Mid-Year Forum Meeting
- APWA’s Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) member representative Leon Berrett, and APWA Sr. Government Affairs Manager Marty Williams are attending 2026 NEMA Mid-year Forum events in Washington, D.C., March 10-13;
- This year’s forum will feature discussions that touch on APWA emergency management priorities, including disaster readiness and response, recovery and mitigation strategies, workforce challenges, and federal/state coordination.
Take the APWA Public Policy Priorities Survey—Make Sure You Have a Say
- APWA Government Affairs is seeking your input regarding the association’s advocacy priorities for the next Congress that will be sworn into office in January;
- Click here to take the survey and help shape APWA’s policy priorities;
- The public policy priority documents are APWA’s advocacy roadmap for working with Congress and federal agencies on key legislation and regulations impacting public works;
- APWA’s current policy priorities are Emergency Management, Transportation, and Water Resiliency;
- If you have questions, contact APWA Director of Government and Public Affairs Andrea Eales at aeales@apwa.org.
APWA Action Alert – Urge Congress to Fund FEMA and CISA
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are two agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) being impacted by the lapse in FY 2026 appropriations;
- APWA and our membership frequently work with FEMA and CISA on emergency preparedness and response, funding and training opportunities, and support to public works professionals as first responders;
- Click here to email your U.S. Representative;
- Click here to email your U.S. Senators.
President Trump Nominates Mullin as DHS Secretary
- President Trump announced the nomination of U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to serve as the next Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, pending Senate confirmation;
- Current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem will officially leave DHS March 31;
- Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt is required to appoint a same-party interim senator within 30 days of the vacancy, and the appointee must take an oath to not run for the seat in this November’s eection.
U.S. District Court Orders FEMA to Release BRIC Grant Funds
- The U.S. District Court in Massachusetts has ordered FEMA to comply with the Court’s December order in the State of Washington, et al. v. FEMA to release Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funding;
- The order directs FEMA to take the following actions:
- Communicate to each plaintiff state agency the status of all BRIC projects
- Identify specified categories of post-December BRIC activity
- File a status report with timelines for reversing termination and issuing FY25/FY26 notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) and resolving pending administrative items
- Issue FY25 and FY26 BRIC NOFO postings
- Additionally, FEMA is ordered to issue an FY24 BRIC NOFO compliant with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)/Stafford Act requirements cited within this order.
White House Releases Cyber Security Recommendations
- The White House is out with a Cyber Strategy for America document;
- Cyber Strategy for America is built on six pillars:
- Shape Adversary Behavior
- Promote Common Sense in Regulation
- Modernize and Secure Federal Government Networks
- Secure Critical Infrastructure
- Sustain Superiority in Critical and Emerging Technologies
- Build Talent and Capacity.
FTA Announces Resources for FIFA Host Cities—Webinar March 11
- The Federal Transit Admin. (FTA) has announced resources to support transit in cities set to host FIFA World Cup events;
- March 11, FTA will host an informational webinar
- Register here to participate
- Additional resources:
- Press Release
- 2026 World Cup Public Transportation Funding
- FTA World Cup Funding Grant-Making toolkit.
DOT Seeking Input on ROUTES Program
- The U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) has posted a request for information (RFI) on its Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative;
- Input is due April 23 to DOT, which is calling for information to inform rural transportation policy and the development of future ROUTES activities as well as to learn more about rural communities’ needs and experiences with transportation infrastructure, including road, rail, transit, aviation, maritime, pipelines, and other forms of transportation;
- Find additional information about the ROUTES program here.
Check Out the Latest APWA Government Affairs video
- Learn more about the role and value of APWA Government Affairs;
- Check out our newest YouTube video that shows lawmakers and APWA members talking about the work of the APWA Government Affairs team in Washington, D.C.;
- APWA Government Affairs is ready with advocacy support for your chapter;
- Contact Director of Government & Public Affairs Andrea Eales at aeales@apwa.org.
On the Horizon
(All times ET)
- March 11 at 10 a.m., the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on S. 3135, the Cold Weather Diesel Reliability Act of 2025.
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