Essential Advocacy Points for October 2025

Government Shutdown Stretches into Second Week as Congress

On September 30, Congress failed to pass a short-term spending agreement, also known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), in time to stop the government from shutting down. At Speaker Mike Johnson’s order, the House is out of session and Republican members are back in their districts. Over on the Senate side, Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has put two competing CR proposals up for votes; however, 8 votes have failed to pass. Republicans and Democrats are engaged in a messaging battle to assign blame to the other side.

• House and Senate Republicans passed a “Clean CR”, free of partisan provisions that would take current FY 25 CR funds and extend them through November 21.
• Senate Democrats proposed an alternative CR that restricts the recission or “clawing back” powers of the Presidency and extends Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire on December 31.

Congress will need to find common ground to reopen the government, however both sides claim that they’re dug in. Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump have both indicated that this could be a longer shutdown, as Republicans view the negotiation as moot after passing a CR with Democrat votes back in March. The Administration also issued additional Reductions in Force (RIFs) last Friday, impacting around 440 HUD staff.  Democrats are taking one of the few opportunities in the minority to push back against President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ who, due to their trifecta in Washington (control of the House, Senate, White House), have been able to push much of their agenda spending more time negotiating with other Republicans rather than Democrats.

Shutdown Resources and Funding Updates

Prior to the shutdown, funds for the Public Housing Operating Fund were obligated through November 2025, and HAP and Admin Fee payments were loaded for October and two weeks of November. 

NAHRO has learned from HUD that the Department will be obligating remaining November HAP as well as December HAP and Admin Fee funding to PHAs later this month. Funds will be available to PHAs at the beginning of each month as usual. 

The impact on Community Planning and Development grants depends on whether funds have already been disbursed. As in past shutdowns, the key question is whether HUD staff will be in the office to process payments and get funds to grantees. Any grants not yet awarded will be on hold until after the shutdown ends.

Visit NAHRO’s shutdown resource page and join us for an emergency Housing Update from Washington on the shutdown this Thursday, October 16 at 1:30pm ET for additional information. HUD has also posted a shutdown contingency plan on their website. 

ROAD to Housing Act Included in Massive Senate Defense Package

The Senate passed the “Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act”, as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA is considered “Must Pass” legislation, and Congress will sometimes include other bills into the larger defense package.

• The ROAD to Housing Act became the first housing package to advance out of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in over a decade.
• Committee leaders, Chair Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) worked across the aisle to include this in the NDAA.
• Congress could pass this housing package as part of the massive annual policy blueprint for the Pentagon.  The House and Senate will negotiate a final NDAA bill for President Trump to sign.  

Ways to Take Action This October

Congress: End the Shutdown, Resume FY 26 Talks!

Speak up on behalf of your residents and communities by telling Congress to end the partial government shutdown and return to regular order. An extended Government Shutdown during an affordability crisis puts our most vulnerable neighbors at risk of experiencing homelessness at a time where homelessness has risen substantially. NAHRO has also updated its state- and territory-level data flyers to reflect funding proposals in the House and Senate bills. NAHRO encourages members to use this data with any outreach you may have with your elected officials and their staff throughout the shutdown and appropriations process. 

Advocacy Engagements

August Advocacy has ended and NAHRO’s 2025-2026 Advocacy Year is just starting! NAHRO members can submit Advocacy Engagements all year long!

Advocacy Engagements help national NAHRO keep track of the work members are doing around the country to engage with decisionmakers at all levels of government about affordable housing. We know you’re doing this work, submitting an Advocacy Engagement is only takes a few minutes but can have such a huge impact on your colleagues across the country as they look for creative ways to engage with state, local, and federal decisionmakers on affordable housing and community development.