Franklin County officials are acting proactively as US President Donald Trump‘s administration continues to implement rapid-fire policy changes. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners has, for the first time, enlisted a Washington lobbying company to represent the county before federal agencies and Congress. Additionally, the business will assist county officials in staying up to date with the rapidly evolving federal situation.
The Trump administration initiated a large-scale review and cutback of federal government consulting contracts, targeting over 20,000 contracts for “non-essential” services, resulting in cancellations worth billions of dollars. This initiative has caused significant disruption in the Washington D.C. area contracting industry, including layoffs and contract renegotiations aimed at reducing costs and improving productivity.
Consulting firms and contractors affected by these cuts have been actively lobbying federal agencies, including the General Services Administration (GSA), to avoid contract terminations or to negotiate exemptions.
The commissioners are worried about anticipated federal changes that might hurt citizens, including cuts to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Head Start, Franklin County Commissioner Erica C. Crawley said. Crawley has referred to Head Start, which provides low-income families with childcare funding, as a lifeline.
According to Crawley, since so many federal awards have been reduced or are currently in uncertainty, the commissioners also wish to promote county programs that get federal funding.
For a year’s worth of lobbying and consulting work, the county will pay Batie and Associates $96,000. At their June 10 meeting, the three Democratic commissioners unanimously authorized the deal.
“These are unprecedented times, and we believe it’s crucial for us to meet with our federal representatives, get a handle on what’s happening at the agency level, strengthen those relationships, and let our representatives know what matters most to us residents,” Crawley said.
This action strengthens the county’s current connections and lobbying efforts. In response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cutting $250 million in funds via the Ohio Department of Health, which affected local agencies like Franklin County’s, Crawley said she visited with Sen. Bernie Moreno’s office.
Franklin County already has a two-person Government Affairs office run by the Board of Commissioners that represents the county in lobbying the Ohio General Assembly and federal representatives.
