- 1. The Federal Government Shutdown
- 2. Property Reassessment
- 3. SEPTA Service Restored
- 4. DRAFT 2025 Climate Action Plan
Save the Date:
NCC Chamber Policy Makers Breakfast, featuring U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Date & Time: Monday, October 27, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Location: Eastside Charter School, 3000 N Claymont St, Wilmington, DE 19802 [Registration]
1. Federal Government Shutdown
As of Monday, October 6, we are in the sixth day of the current federal government shutdown. Following below is information including the latest developments (as of Sunday evening), a brief synopsis of what led to the shutdown, and some links to informational resources from the members of the Delaware Congressional Delegation and the White House. (At this stage, we are not sure how long the shutdown will last.) A more thorough summary and background is available by clicking the following link.
Guidance from Congressional Delegation & White House
For more information on the government shutdown and on what resources are available to aid in navigating it, you can visit the respective webpages posted by members of the Delaware Congressional Delegation:
In the current political climate, it is proving particularly challenging to reach bipartisan consensus on major issues – both foreign and domestic. At the end of President Biden’s term, Congress did not pass an FY 2025 budget via the regular appropriations process before the end of FY 2024 (last September 30th).
A series of continuing resolutions, accompanied by ongoing negotiations and brinksmanship, funded federal government operations, with certain additional funding authorized, until the passage and enactment (signature by President Trump) of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1 -119th Congress) which was signed on July 4th. Rather than being developed and passed using the regular appropriations process, the bill was drafted and passed via a process known as “reconciliation, ”an expedited two-phase process that requires a simple majority in both houses, as opposed to the regular process which would require a simple majority in the House in the final phase and a two-thirds (60-vote) majority to pass the Senate (60 votes being required to reach cloture in the upper chamber.)
With both sides dug in and political pressures on members of both parties making compromise more difficult than at any time in recent memory, passage of an FY 2026 budget package via the regular budget process (summarized at the end of this update) has been seemingly impossible; a perception that is supported by the inability of Congress to reach agreement on a stopgap measure (a continuing resolution) to fund the government through November 21st – which has resulted in a shutdown. Presumably, the intent of leadership and appropriators was to work to reach agreement on an FY 2026 budget whether via reconciliation or the regular process. As things stand, it appears that they must reach agreement on a continuing resolution to reopen the government before an actual budget can be passed.
The New Castle County Chamber of Commerce will continue to closely follow developments and seek opportunities to assist our members and the broader community during the shutdown.
2. Property Reassessment
Following the special session on August 12th where the House and Senate met to address issues relating to the recent property reassessment that was conducted in all three counties, a group of plaintiffs including rental property owners, manufactured housing park owners, and representatives of the lodging industry, filed suit in Delaware Chancery Court. The case will be heard before Vice Chancellor Lori Will. Vice Chancellor Will indicated in her scheduling order that there will be a one-day trial on October 20th, with a ruling expected on or around the end of the month.

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