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Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Angelina Panettieri, legislative director of information technology and communications for the National League of Cities, addresses attendees at the Massachusetts Mayors Association meeting on April 16 in Salem.
The National League of Cities gave mayors from across the state an update on federal issues during a meeting of the Massachusetts Mayors’ Association on April 16 in Salem.
Angelina Panettieri, the NLC’s legislative director of information technology and communications, said the White House thus far has issued 185 executive actions, which have prompted 192 legal challenges. In addition to policy changes resulting from the executive actions, Panettieri said there is “a lot of uncertainty because these challenges are still moving through the court system” and take time to resolve.
Panettieri said it’s not unusual to see incoming administrations pause certain federal funding, but “what is unusual in this administration has been the scope and duration of that pause.”
The NLC offers an online resource page summarizing executive actions that impact local governments, as well as a letter template that local leaders can use to share the impacts of federal program disruptions with their congressional representatives. (Those who aren’t NLC members will need to provide contact information to view the free resources.) Panettieri underscored the importance of regular communication with congressional representatives to bolster advocacy efforts.
The NLC is soliciting feedback about recent experiences working with federal agencies by email to advocacy@nlc.org.
Panettieri said that recent reductions in the federal workforce will likely prolong some application, compliance, and certification processes. Communities should be aware of submission timelines and aim to get materials in ahead of deadlines, such as the April 30 reporting deadline for American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Panettieri outlined what is at stake for local governments, including federal efforts to both shift responsibility and costs to states and municipalities while limiting local authority by conditioning funds and imposing penalties for non-alignment with administrative goals.
Panettieri said the NLC’s advocacy efforts are prioritizing issues such as protecting the federal tax exemption for municipal bonds, avoiding delays in Inflation Reduction Act fund disbursement and federal food aid, and increasing the availability of public housing subsidies, credits and other incentives. For more, see the NLC’s 2025 Federal Action Agenda.