DC Download: October 2025

The federal government remains shut down, making it the longest full shut down in our country’s history. Without a crystal ball, it is impossible to know when it will end. While thousands of federal employees have received termination notices, we are not aware of any colleagues within NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management being terminated, and yet the future remains uncertain for both the shutdown and status of current federal employee jobs.

At the same time, there has been some bipartisan progress on coast and ocean policy and appointments. This week, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee for Commerce, Science and Transportation considered S.2245, to amend the Digital Coast Act to improve the acquisition, integration, and accessibility of data of the Digital Coast program and to extend the program. Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed Dr. Neil Jacobs as NOAA Administrator and Taylor Jordan as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction. This week, the Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to act on Dr. Tim Petty’s nomination to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

In other DC news, the Congressional Estuaries Caucus hosted a congressional staff field trip that was led by staff from our Chesapeake Bay Reserve in Maryland. And with the start of school NERRA reminded members of Congress that teachers around the country love their reserves and the fantastic Teachers on the Estuaries training they provide. 

Thank you to all Reserves, Friends, volunteers, and partners for all you do for the coasts and estuaries.