The longest government shutdown in our nation’s history ended Nov. 12 after Congress passed the continuing resolution to fund the federal government through Jan. 30, 2026, In the remaining three legislative weeks in 2025, Congress is focused on finalizing and passing the Fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and completing as much of the remaining FY 26 appropriations measures as possible before Jan. 30, 2026.
Through NAPO’s efforts in the House and Senate Judiciary and Armed Services Committees and leadership, we are confident at least a few of the provisions of our pro-law enforcement amendment will be included in the final, Law Enforcement and Crime Victims Support Package in the Fiscal 2026 NDAA. The package includes eight bipartisan NAPO priority bills: Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act, Improving Police Critical Aid for Responding to Emergencies (CARE) Act, Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act, the Strong Communities Act, the Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, the Reauthorizing STOIC Act, the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act, and the PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act.
Senate appropriators are considering another package of Fiscal 2026 spending measures to advance after Thanksgiving recess, which could include the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations bill. NAPO received a supportive response from Senate Appropriations Committee members after sending a letter to Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) urging them to keep the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office in their independent office within the Department of Justice (DOJ). NAPO is working on getting Committee leadership’s support to maintain an independent COPS Office. We are urging Senate and House appropriators to include language in the final CJS appropriations bill prohibiting the integration of the COPS Office into OJP.
On Nov. 19, the House passed the NAPO-backed Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC (CLEAN DC) Act, H.R. 5107 by a 233-190 bipartisan vote. The bill would repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act (CPJRAA), enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia on Jan. 19, 2023. The CPJRAA stripped Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Officers of their right to bargain over accountability or disciplinary issues, creating substandard collective bargaining rights compared to fellow public servants in the District, who are allowed to bargain over disciplinary issues.
The House Judiciary Committee approved the NDO Fairness Act on Nov. 18, which would limit law enforcement’s ability to obtain non-disclosure orders (NDOs). Under current law, law enforcement can obtain an NDO to prohibit electronic communications service providers from notifying the customer that they are under investigation if there is reason to believe that such notice might jeopardize the investigation. The NDO Fairness Act will raise the standard of proof law enforcement must satisfy before an NDO can be issued, from “reason to believe” to a standard of "more likely than not”. Under the proposed standard, law enforcement must show that a denial of the NDO request will negatively impact the investigation. NAPO has expressed concerns about how these new restrictions will impact investigations to staff and is prepared to work with bill sponsors to balance privacy concerns and legitimate law enforcement needs.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the authority of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025. This program will provide $500 million over two Fiscal Years to support state, local, tribal, and territorial governments in combatting the unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems that threaten the safety and security of American people and institutions. Completed applications for C-UAS grant funding must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 5, 2025.
Register by Dec. 1 for Early Bird Discounts for NAPO’s Annual Pension & Benefits Seminar at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada Jan. 25 – 27, 2026. The Seminar will educate pension system and employee representatives and their providers and vendors on the latest pension and benefits issues, focusing on the policies of the second Trump Administration, Executive Orders, lawsuits, and the new Congress.
Click here for complete details about these issues in the Nov. 21, 2025 Washington Report.
