NGA Government Relations
The Office of Government Relations works to ensure that Governors’ views are represented in shaping federal policy by maintaining regular contact with congressional leaders and key administration officials, keeping up-to-date information on critical state–federal issues and coordinating state action.
We work closely with Governors’ Washington, D.C., office representatives, state-federal contacts and other state and local government organizations to maximize the effectiveness of NGA’s lobbying activities. Specifically, our staff serve as policy experts and liaisons to Congress and executive branch agencies and coordinate the work and policy activities of NGA committees.
Governors believe federal action should be limited to the powers expressly conveyed by the Constitution, to preserve state sovereignty in legislative and regulatory matters the Executive Committee has added the following bipartisan priorities:
- Enhancing emergency management;
- Streamlining permitting processes;
- Supporting flexibility and waiver opportunities and funding for state and territorial designed Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF;
- Ensuring the federal government meets its already committed obligations for federally funded projects across states, territories and Commonwealths.
Additional federal priorities have been developed by each of NGA’s Governor-led Task Forces and can be found on the Task Force pages below. The complete list of 2025 federal priorities can be found here.
NGA Task Forces & Council of Governors
Staff
- Tiffany Waddell—Director of Government Relations
- Renee Antoine—Legislative Director
- Tim Carlton—Legislative Director
- Richard Lukas—Legislative Director
- Courtney Brinley—Legislative Associate
- Alexis Howard—Legislative Associate
- Abigail Smith Judstra—Legislative Associate
- Mackenzi Matthews—Legislative Associate
Advocacy Communications Library
Budgets and Programs in Balance: Understanding the Fiscal Impact of Federal Policy Across State and Territory Systems
Letter on Council of Governors Recommendations on FEMA Reform
NGA Comments on FEMA Disaster Response Experiences
Congressional Briefing on Governors Reshaping Workforce Development
Letter to Secretary Noem on the FEMA Review Council
Governors Stand Firm on Preserving National Guard Authority
Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force Request Representation of Governors on FEMA Agency Review Council
Governors Polis, Stitt Issue Statement on Potential Medicaid Funding Cuts
Governors Discuss Workforce Innovation
Governors Approve 2025 Federal Priorities at Winter Meeting
2025 COG Budget Priorities
