County staff: partial federal shutdown creates uncertainty but appropriations package preserves key programs
February 09, 2026 | Santa Barbara County, California
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Don Gilchrist, the county’s federal affairs lead, told the Legislative Program Committee on Feb. 2 that the federal government was partially shut down over the prior weekend but that Congress had made substantial progress on appropriations.
“As of Saturday morning, the federal government is partially shut down again,” Gilchrist said, but he added that six of the 12 funding bills have been signed into law and the remaining six have been passed by the House and await Senate action. He said the package awaiting Senate consideration includes measures important to the county, including transportation and housing funding and the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill.
Gilchrist said the compromise package largely rejects the deep cuts proposed in the president’s budget and keeps nondefense accounts at or near last year’s levels. He identified specific program funding figures discussed in committee materials, including preservation of the HOME program at about $1,250,000,000 and CDC funding at roughly $9,100,000,000. He also said the bill would add approximately $23,000,000,000 to FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which would help keep FEMA solvent and support reimbursements to local governments.
Committee members asked about the fate of the Homeland Security (DHS) legislation, which had been stripped out of the larger package and placed under a two-week continuing resolution. Gilchrist said the timing was uncertain and that two weeks may not be enough to resolve the political disagreements in the House. He warned the situation is “volatile” and that a short continuing resolution or another stop-gap measure is possible.
Why it matters: county leaders rely on federal appropriations for transportation projects, housing programs and disaster recovery reimbursements. Gilchrist said staff will continue to monitor developments and coordinate with the county’s federal delegation and departmental leaders to protect county priorities.
The committee voted to receive and file the federal update at the meeting.
“As of Saturday morning, the federal government is partially shut down again,” Gilchrist said, but he added that six of the 12 funding bills have been signed into law and the remaining six have been passed by the House and await Senate action. He said the package awaiting Senate consideration includes measures important to the county, including transportation and housing funding and the Labor, Health and Human Services appropriations bill.
Gilchrist said the compromise package largely rejects the deep cuts proposed in the president’s budget and keeps nondefense accounts at or near last year’s levels. He identified specific program funding figures discussed in committee materials, including preservation of the HOME program at about $1,250,000,000 and CDC funding at roughly $9,100,000,000. He also said the bill would add approximately $23,000,000,000 to FEMA’s disaster relief fund, which would help keep FEMA solvent and support reimbursements to local governments.
Committee members asked about the fate of the Homeland Security (DHS) legislation, which had been stripped out of the larger package and placed under a two-week continuing resolution. Gilchrist said the timing was uncertain and that two weeks may not be enough to resolve the political disagreements in the House. He warned the situation is “volatile” and that a short continuing resolution or another stop-gap measure is possible.
Why it matters: county leaders rely on federal appropriations for transportation projects, housing programs and disaster recovery reimbursements. Gilchrist said staff will continue to monitor developments and coordinate with the county’s federal delegation and departmental leaders to protect county priorities.
The committee voted to receive and file the federal update at the meeting.
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