Federal and City Relations

Biden Plan Would Direct $400 Billion to Vaccine, Public Health Initiatives

The president-elect’s $1.9 trillion plan includes funding for a national Covid-19 vaccination program, expanded testing capacity, and safety measures to help reopen schools.

  • By Andrea Noble

Proposed Safe-Injection Site in Philadelphia Found Illegal by Federal Appeals Court

The U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 decision that found a plan to open the nation’s first supervised drug injection site violates a federal law passed to shut down crack houses.

  • By Andrea Noble

Local Police Departments Investigate Whether Their Officers Took Part in Capitol Riot

Police officers, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters attended the pro-Trump rally held before the riot began. Many are now on administrative leave while agencies probe their actions.

  • By Andrea Noble

Biden Picks Two More State and Local Leaders for Top Jobs

The president-elect has selected Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to lead the Labor Department and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to be Commerce secretary.

  • By Bill Lucia

D.C. Orders 6 p.m. Curfew to Restore Order After Chaos at U.S. Capitol

By evening the Capitol building was secure, after a pro-Trump mob broke in earlier in the day.

  • By Andrea Noble

The Big Lesson of 2020

COMMENTARY | 2020 should teach all of us that we can no longer ignore our biggest challenges.

  • By Alisha Powell Gillis

State, Local Governments Could Get an Extra Year to Spend Covid Funds

President Trump on Tuesday disparaged the coronavirus relief package approved by Congress this week. The deal does not appropriate more direct funding for local governments and states, but if it does go forward, it would extend the deadline for them to spend previous funds.

  • By Andrea Noble

Congressional Leaders Reach Deal on $900 Billion Covid Relief Package

The agreement reached Sunday does not include direct funding for state and local governments but does extend the amount of time they have to spend previously appropriated federal funds.

  • By Andrea Noble

Congress Nears Covid-19 Relief Deal With Direct Stimulus Payments, But No Local Government Aid

Representatives from both parties, who met Tuesday and Wednesday, said major headway was made during negotiations on a roughly $900 billion relief package. But more direct help for state and local governments isn't included.

  • By Andrea Noble

McConnell: State and Local Aid Should Be Left Out of Near-Term Virus Relief Deal

The Senate majority leader recommended passing a package with programs that Democrats and Republicans can agree on, while the Trump administration offered its own proposal.

  • By Bill Lucia

Lawmakers Propose $908 Billion Covid Relief Plan in Bid to End Gridlock

A bipartisan group of senators and House members discussed their proposal Tuesday, but congressional leaders suggested they would be moving ahead with their own plans.

  • By Andrea Noble

Biden and Congressional Democrats in ‘Lockstep Agreement’ to Push for Lame-Duck Covid Deal

Negotiations on another round of coronavirus relief stalled before the election. Now congressional leaders in both parties are taking steps to revive talks before year-end.

  • By Andrea Noble

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State CIOs in 2020

State and Local Officials Want to See Climate Policy Support—and Funding—Under Biden Administration

At a virtual event held by the NewDEAL Forum, state and local officials discussed their next steps on climate policy.

  • By Emma Coleman

Biden Names Intergovernmental Affairs Chief

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | New Orleans nixes Mardi Gras parades due to Covid … Mississippi governor calls for axing state’s income tax … Leaders in both parties urge against out-of-state political supporters moving to Georgia ahead of special election.

  • By Bill Lucia

EPA Sets National Recycling Goal at 50% by 2030

To increase the national recycling rate from 32% to 50%, the federal government says steps need to be taken to reduce contamination in the recycling stream and strengthen the market for recycled goods.

  • By Andrea Noble

State and Local Leaders Tapped to Assist With Biden Transition

The president-elect’s “agency review teams,” including one focused on transportation, will in some cases be led by state and local government officials.

  • By Bill Lucia

With the Election Over, Will Covid Stimulus Actually Move Forward?

Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Congress needs to approve a coronavirus aid package before the end of the year.

  • By Andrea Noble

What’s at Stake for Local Governments in the Presidential Election

President Trump has publicly feuded with Democratic city leaders, but receives higher marks from many county officials and some Republican mayors. Former Vice President Joe Biden pledges local leaders of all political stripes will get his support.

  • By Andrea Noble

Seattle, Portland, and New York Sue Trump Administration Over Labeling as ‘Anarchist Jurisdictions’

The cities said that labeling them “anarchist jurisdictions”—and threatening to withhold federal money— was an “arbitrary and capricious” decision that has no merit and violates the Constitution.

  • By Emma Coleman

Coronavirus Deal Remains Elusive as Senate Rejects Scaled-Down Bill

The back and forth negotiations over a broader Covid-19 stimulus package continued Wednesday with no firm agreements in place.

  • By Andrea Noble

With Census Count Over, Concerns Linger About Accuracy

Community groups raced to get more people to complete census questionnaires before the count ended Friday, but they still believe many were missed after the deadline was pushed up.

  • By Andrea Noble