Read about some of NADO’s latest advocacy updates and achievements below.
On August 12, the U.S. Departments of Labor, Commerce, and Education have released a coordinated national workforce strategy designed to align training programs with current labor market needs and technological changes.
On August 7, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) titled “Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking,” which directs federal agencies to strengthen oversight over the discretionary grant process to ensure grants advance American interests, reflect presidential priorities, and eliminate funding for activities deemed inconsistent with those values.
On July 29, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a markup of the bipartisan Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025, and passed it out of committee unanimously 24-0. This was the first time in over a decade that Senate Banking held a markup on a housing package.
As August recess approaches, Congress continues to work through the annual appropriations process for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. While some progress has been made, there is still a long road ahead to avoid a government shutdown and ensure stable funding for key federal programs.
On July 4, President Trump signed into law the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is a comprehensive legislative package that addresses a wide range of policy areas, including tax reform, healthcare, defense spending, border security, workforce development, and energy policy.
On June 18, Senate HELP Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reintroduced the Older Americans Act (OAA) Reauthorization Act.
On June 17, 2025 a federal judge ruled that the EPA’s termination of $600 million in environmental justice grants, previously issued by the Biden administration, was unlawful.
On June 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a highly anticipated Policy Notice updating the $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, giving states 90 days to comply.
On June 10, the Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce (CIAW), which NADO is an active member, sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to reject harmful cuts to workforce development programs recently proposed as part of the president’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget request.
Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the awarding of $21 million in Partnership Planning grants to 101 entities, after being temporarily paused.
The EDA Stakeholder Coalition sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to reject the proposal to eliminate the EDA in Fiscal Year 2026.
On June 4, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for their Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. With approximately $1.45 billion in available funding, the program is designed to support a wide range of economic recovery efforts in disaster-affected areas, helping localities not only recover but also transform their economies for long-term resilience.
Questions? Contact Mirielle Burgoyne.