Federal and City Relations

Cities Prepare to Spend Historic Sums of Federal Aid

In addition to filling budget gaps, they're looking at longer-term recovery programs focused on areas like housing and job training.

  • By Bill Lucia

Mayors Urge Senate to Approve Gun Background Check Bills

Two House proposals would extend the checks to private transfers and the time dealers must wait before transferring a gun to a customer.

  • By Andrea Noble

Biden Meets With Bipartisan Group to Push for Infrastructure Plan

The president gathered with eight congressional lawmakers, as his administration advocates for a roughly $2 trillion proposal focused on public works and other domestic priorities.

  • By Bill Lucia

Biden's Budget Would Up Spending on State and Local Programs

The president's initial fiscal 2022 blueprint, released Friday, calls for a 16% federal spending increase on a broad slate of domestic programs. Republicans swiftly criticized the plan.

  • By Bill Lucia

Biden Calls For ‘Red Flag’ Gun Law, Increased Local Violence Prevention Grants

President Biden said U.S. gun violence is an “embarrassment” as he announced a series of actions to tighten firearms regulations.

  • By Andrea Noble

Biden on Infrastructure: ‘We Will Not Be Open to Doing Nothing’

The president also emphasized he is prepared to have talks with Republicans about his proposed spending package.

  • By Bill Lucia

Single Sign-in For Government Services Expands to States, Localities

The federal government is looking to partner with state and local governments to grow its Login.gov service, which it says is secure and user friendly.

  • By Andrea Noble

How to Assemble a Successful Grant Proposal

COMMENTARY | Knowing how to put together a competitive grant proposal that stands out can help governments deliver more impact to their communities.

  • By Merril Oliver

Biden Infrastructure Plan Offers $213 Billion ‘Sweeping Investment’ in Affordable Housing

The president’s proposal calls for $40 billion to improve existing public housing, as well as funding for grants and tax credit programs to build and preserve affordable units.

  • By Andrea Noble

White House Details $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan

President Biden’s proposal will invest in the nation’s crumbling infrastructure but also seek to increase U.S. resilience to climate change. Local leaders were quick to embrace the plan.

  • By Andrea Noble

Mayors Want Vaccines Distributed Directly to Cities

The proposal, pitched to the White House on Monday, would mean bypassing states. It’s likely to be a tough sell given the added complications it would involve.

  • By Bill Lucia

Buttigieg Emphasizes Commitment to Working Directly with Local Governments

“States don't always see things from that critically important local perspective,” the former mayor told county officials.

  • By Bill Lucia
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The FCC Wants Your Feedback to Improve Broadband Access

In an effort to create more accurate maps detailing broadband connections and service, the Federal Communications Commission is collecting first-hand accounts from users.

  • By Andrea Noble

When State and Local Governments Can Expect to Receive Stimulus Funds

The Treasury Department is still working on guidance that will better inform states of how they can use the money. But aid for cities and counties must be distributed within 60 days of the law’s passage.

  • By Andrea Noble

The Overshadowed Plight of City Budgets

New federal aid offers welcome relief for many local governments, which have seen their financial difficulties upstaged at times by better-than-expected state revenues.

  • By Liz Farmer

New Project Aims to Identify Local Government Assets at Risk of Cyberattack

The two-year pilot program was announced as state and local governments are still assessing the scope of recent widespread hacks.

  • By Andrea Noble

Covid Relief Bill Will Infuse Billions into Local Economies

From $1,400 stimulus payments to $300-a-week unemployment benefits, the $1.9 trillion aid package gets cash to residents that can translate to stronger state and local tax revenues.

  • By Andrea Noble

Mid-Sized City Mayors Urge Feds Not to Forget Them in Climate Fight

The type of infrastructure investment needed to advance the Biden administration’s climate policy goals could be out of reach for many small and mid-sized cities without federal help.

  • By Andrea Noble

Additional State and Local Perks Make it Into Senate Covid Relief Bill

Extra money for counties with untaxable public land and provisions that allow localities to spend federal dollars on hazard pay for workers are included in the version approved over the weekend.

  • By Andrea Noble

Senate Covid Bill Adds Restrictions on State and Local Aid

The legislation would impose requirements on how states can use the money, and also redirect $10 billion that had been bound for cities and counties.

  • By Andrea Noble

State Lawmakers Split Over Need for Federal Aid

Despite dire budget projections earlier on in the pandemic, many states are now anticipating surpluses this year.

  • By Sophie Quinton, Stateline