Hi Reader,

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the MyFedTrainer booth and attended our sessions at NGMA 2025! It was incredible to connect in person and share real-world strategies for navigating federal grants right now.

One message came through loud and clear in every session: Oversight is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Below are additional takeaways, and we’ll be sharing even more insights from our presentations in upcoming newsletters and on social.

But before we dive in, a quick shoutout to our incredible training partners like Heluna Health—it was such a joy to connect with so many of you beyond the Zoom square!

Why Oversight Still Matters—More Than Ever

With federal agency involvement decreasing and more grant funding expected to flow through state-administered block grants, pass-through entities are under increasing pressure to manage risk, document procedures, and maintain compliance internally—especially as many states are already overburdened with limited resources.

As one NGMA panelist put it:

“If this is a marathon, we’re only clearing the first hurdle.”

Here are a few more early takeaways from the conference:

Legal challenges to executive orders and OMB memos are underway. The outcomes could reshape grant oversight and recipient responsibilities.
More discretionary grants are shifting to formula-based programs managed by states, raising questions about capacity, transparency, and accountability.
New regulatory changes are expected soon—making it even more important to maintain strong internal controls and written procedures now.
Advocacy matters. Joining associations like NGMA and engaging with elected officials helps protect your funding and clarify your community’s needs.

Final Call: Register for Tomorrow’s Webinar

If you left NGMA thinking, “I need to tighten up our internal policies now,” you’re not alone. That’s exactly why we’re closing out the week with a training designed to help you do just that.

What? Top 10 Written Policies to Sustain Federal Grant Funding

When? Tomorrow, March 21st, at 1 PM ET

Why? This training is your blueprint for strengthening subrecipient/vendor oversight, documenting internal controls, and staying audit-ready in a high-risk climate.

Register Now

Federal Grant News Roundup

HUD Rejects DEI Language in CDBG Application: HUD denied Asheville, NC’s Hurricane Helene relief request due to DEI language and a stated focus on minority/women-owned businesses—despite those being statutory procurement priorities under 2 CFR 200. Conflicts between executive priorities and Uniform Guidance may continue. Read the article here.
Government Shutdown Averted (For Now): A continuing resolution passed March 14 will fund the federal government through September 30. While HUD programs saw increases, many fear these are insufficient to cover actual need. Budget cuts to discretionary programs are still being debated.
Executive Order Targets Federal Bureaucracy: A new order calls for reducing or eliminating federal entities like the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the U.S. Agency for Global Media. This could limit future grant opportunities and shift oversight responsibilities even further. See the full executive order here.

Revisit your boilerplate narratives and procurement language. With statutory rules now in conflict with executive messaging, review your documents to ensure they reflect both compliance and strategic positioning. Don’t assume what worked last year is safe today.

Stay #GrantReady with MyFedTrainer!

Here’s how we can help you keep up with the changes and protect your funding:

Register now for tomorrow’s webinar on written policies and compliance
Watch your inbox for more NGMA session recaps and insights in the coming weeks
Have questions? Reach out anytime at Support@MyFedTrainer.com

Guiding your grant journey,