Dec 05, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues DOI Issues Order to Streamline Reclamation Construction Projects

On November 25, the Department of the Interior issued Secretary’s Order 3446 directing the Bureau of Reclamation to implement changes to construction contracting and project management processes for federally funded facilities across 17 Western states. The order

Nov 21, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Announces Proposed Rules to Restore EPA Regulations to Earlier Framework

On November 19, the Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced four proposed rules to restore Endangered Species Act regulations to their 2019 and 2020 framework. The proposals

Nov 21, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Congressman Valadao Introduces Permitting Reform Bill

On November 19, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Determination of NEPA Adequacy Streamlining Act. This bill would

Nov 07, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues SNAP Payments Partially Restored Amid Ongoing Federal Government Shutdown

SNAP benefits lapsed in many states over the weekend for the first time in the program’s 60-year history, as the federal government shutdown continues. However, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) planned to fully suspend benefits, two federal court orders issued last week require

Oct 31, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Government Shutdown Update

The Federal shutdown continues with no clear pathway to resolution, as Senate Democrats left town Thursday. Speaker Mike Johnson canceled votes in the House for the fifth straight week

Oct 31, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Legislation Introduced in House to Reinstate Glenn Medical Center Critical Access Funding

On October 24, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) introduced the Rural Hospital Fairness Act, which would reinstate

Oct 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Fix Our Forests Act Advances Out of Senate Agriculture Committee

On October 21, 2025, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry convened a markup to consider the Fix Our Forests Act (S.1462 | one pager). The measure passed out of committee

Oct 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues DOI Layoff Plans Revealed

A court filing submitted Monday, October 20, in a federal court in San Francisco revealed that the Department of the Interior plans to lay off

Oct 24, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Federal Legislation Aims to Restore Rural Hospital Access in Glenn County

Glenn County’s only hospital, Glenn Medical Center, closed its doors on September 30 after losing a federal designation critical to its financial survival. U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) have introduced legislation that would

Oct 17, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Interim Recess Update: RCRC Sponsored Measures and more…

On October 13, the Governor took action on the measures that remained on his desk for consideration. Of the 917 bills sent to the Governor’s desk during this legislative year, 794 were signed, and 123 vetoed. Of those measures, RCRC-sponsored