Date: March 27, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
The National League of Cities (NLC) notified municipal leaders that the tax exemption on municipal bonds is at serious risk. Economic advisors to the Trump Administration are describing the repeal of the exemption as “an easy way to save $250 billion.” In Maine, municipal bonds have funded countless community projects, including essential infrastructure projects such as schools, roads, water systems, and public safety facilities. The tax-exempt status makes these bonds especially valuable, as it keeps borrowing costs low for municipalities and reduces the financial burdens placed on property taxpayers. Municipal officials who have benefited from the use of tax-exempt bonds are encouraged to reach out to members of Maine’s federal delegation and provide examples of projects supported by these bonds and resulting savings to property taxpayers. A copy of the action alert can be found here.
Date: March 25, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
President Trump signed an Executive Order protecting the integrity of U.S. elections by; (1) directing the Election Assistance Commission to require documentation, using government issued proof, of U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms; (2) directing the Attorney General to prioritize prosecuting non-citizen voting and related crimes; and (3) updating Voluntary Voting System Guidelines and security standards for voting equipment and prioritized access to federal grant funds, including the use of voter-verifiable paper ballot records, rather than ballots that relay on a barcode or QR code to be counted. A copy of the fact sheet can be found here and the executive order here.
Date: March 25, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
President Trump signed an Executive Order promoting financial integrity, transparency, and efficiency by improving the Department of the Treasury’s ability to screen for improper payments and fraud, track transactions, and manage government disbursements. For Treasury to disburse funds, agency heads must comply with disbursement requirements that include ensuring that sufficient funds are available before obligations are incurred, verifying payee information, standardizing information reporting formats, confirming funds are being disbursed from appropriate sources, and implementing other verification and certification measures. A copy of the fact sheet can be found here.
Date: March 25, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
President Trump signed an Executive Order modernizing government by replacing paper-based payments with faster and more secure electronic payments and further requiring that by September 30, 2025 the federal government cease issuing paper checks for all disbursements, including intergovernmental payments, benefits, vendor payments, and tax refunds. A copy of the fact sheet can be found here.
Date: March 20, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
President Trump signed an Executive Order to return power over education to families. The order directs: (1) the Secretary of Education to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return education authority to the states, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits; and (2) that programs or activities receiving any remaining Department of Education funds do not advance policies that conflict with Trump Administration priorities. A copy of the fact sheet can be found here and the executive order here.
Date: March 20, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
President Trump signed an Executive Order to increase American mineral production, streamline permitting, and enhance national security. A copy of the fact sheet can be found here and the executive order here.
Date: March 19, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
The U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT) has directed all modal agencies to conduct a review of competitive grant programs and awards to identify project scope and activities advancing priorities that conflict Administration's policy priorities. As determined necessary by USDOT reviewers, grant awards may be renegotiated, grant agreements revised, scoped of the work reduced or modified, or canceled entirely. This directive applies to competitive award selections made after January 20, 2021 without grant agreements or partially obligated grant agreements. It does not apply to projects with executed grant agreements that are fully obligated. For more information, click here.
Date: March 18, 2025
Category: Federal Policy Updates
President Trump signed an Executive Order empowering state, localities and citizen to effectively prepare for cyber-attacks and weather events. The order focuses on adopting policies that focus on risk-informed decision making and action over information sharing and evaluating national preparedness policies to reform the process and metrics for determining federal responsibility. A copy of the fact sheet can be found here and the executive order here.