Housing, public safety and infrastructure needs topped the list of concerns for U.S. cities, both large and small, said mayors and city council members at the mid-March National League of Cities Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C. Other key issues included the federal funding freeze and disaster preparation and recovery.
The conference was headlined by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Vice President JD Vance, who spoke separately on March 10 to some 3,000 city leaders attending the conference.
Vance addressed the nation’s housing shortage and affordability issues, citing inflation, zoning regulations and immigration as key factors in the housing crisis. “The Trump administration has taken important steps to make building cheaper and to boost the supply of housing,” Vance said, referring to “an executive order making it a priority to bring down prices for new buyers.” The order directs department and agency heads to eliminate unnecessary administrative expenses, Biden-administration requirements that raise the costs of home appliances and to “eliminate harmful, coercive ‘climate’ policies that increase the costs of food and fuel.”
Zeldin focused on what he called “cooperative federalism,” which refers to an approach of responsibility and authority for governmental programs that is shared among states and the federal government.
“I've heard it from Democratic governors and Republican governors, red states, blue states, purple states, asking for us to work with states and with local municipalities,” Zeldin said. “We want to work with you, and we want to partner with you,” he told the audience.
Other speakers praised the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, but said it fell short of expectations. “There was a really big gap between what was expected by local governments and what actually happened at the federal level,” Benjamin Gilsdorf, associate legislative director for transportation at the National Association of Counties said on a March 11 panel. He added there were delays between getting the funds and building the projects.
Speaking on the same panel, Alexander Laska, deputy director for transportation and innovation at center-left think tank Third Way said that the Biden administration’s rule-making guidance, “While well-intentioned, added a ton of additional complexity and time to the programs.”
The new congress will need to craft the next surface transportation legislation as IIJA funding expires on Sept. 30, 2026. Typically reauthorized every five years under different names, the legislation provides funding for highways and mass transit. It’s another key issue cities and counties are keeping an eye on, said Austin, Texas, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes, as she introduced U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, a Democratic member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Larsen advised city leaders, “As you refine your policy priorities, share them early and often with your congressional delegation about how the next bill must continue to deliver for cities.”
Disaster preparation, recovery
As the frequency and intensity of wildfires, storms, floods and droughts increase, city leaders spoke about the need for disaster preparedness and recovery. For example, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore talked about the lessons learned from the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore last year. “The best way to do disaster relief is making sure you're really good at disaster preparation,” he said. Moore added that cooperation among local, state and federal entities were essential to the recovery effort.
Recovery from disasters like the wildfires that struck parts of Los Angeles County in January also requires an economic recovery, said West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers. “Look to these disaster-stricken areas as a place to return to, to reinvest in,” she said.
In such events, drones are expanding from a tool to enhance public safety to assist during disasters, helping police and fire departments assess and respond to criminal or emergency situations. The Wichita, Kansas, police department began using drones in 2024. To ensure transparency, an online interactive map shows when and where drones have been in use. “Drones have proven to be invaluable tools in modern policing, aiding in search and rescue operations, monitoring large public events and providing aerial support and critical incidents,” Wichita Mayor Lily Wu said at the conference.
“From housing to public safety and infrastructure, local governments are leading the way all across this great nation,” said Athens, Ohio, Mayor and NLC President Steve Patterson.
