CEO insights: four lessons from our 2025 Local Power Summit

By Jill Habig, founder and CEO

At our inaugural Local Power Summit in Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County, I had the privilege of learning with and from people doing incredibly difficult and often underrecognized work: local elected officials and public servants.

From mayors to city attorneys to election officials, those who attended our convening last month wake up each day committed to serving their communities with integrity, purpose, and resilience. This sense of resolve has never been more urgent. Here are my top four insights from our time together.

The federal government is ‘flooding the zone’

One focus of the summit was a major challenge facing local leaders today: threats to local budgets posed by the actions of this federal administration. Withheld federal funding may feel abstract, but its consequences will be devastatingly concrete. In San Francisco, nearly 2,000 people could face eviction if federal funding is cut off. King County, Washington, relies on federal disaster preparedness support to protect people from deadly weather events like last November’s bomb cyclone — funding that’s now under threat.

We heard it again and again: federal dollars are the invisible scaffolding that props up essential services across the country. Removing this support from communities starts little fires everywhere — leaving local governments scrambling to extinguish the flames.

Local leaders must be a united national front

But local governments — and, often, their legal teams — are fighting back. Public Rights Project has now brought lawsuits that aim to restore and protect more than $15 billion in federal funding. And our coalitions are growing. For example, the number of jurisdictions involved in San Francisco v. Trump, a lawsuit that defends cities with sanctuary policies from targeted defunding and federal interference, now totals over 50.

And what’s exciting is that the wins are real. We have, so far, helped preserve critical services that millions rely on. As a lawyer, I relate to the sense of urgency that local government attorneys are feeling now. Many are now engaging in the biggest legal battles of their careers. We need to stand with them.

Our voices are stronger together

Telling our stories, whether to local communities or on a national stage, is another important tactic. We’ve heard from our local government partners that everything from aviation safety to pollution management — things that we normally take for granted — will be put at risk if federal funds are pulled back. From the convening, we got just a preview of how the unprecedented federal cuts to Medicare will affect people across the country.

We also need to talk about the harmful and misguided federal policies on immigration; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and public safety. Local elected officials shared stories about only three children showing up to soccer practice, when normally there are entire teams — or border towns that have successfully taken in new immigrants, despite no support from the federal government.

This is a moment unlike any other

What struck me most about this gathering wasn’t just the grit and determination in the room, but the values that grounded every conversation: dignity, equity, and democracy. In the face of federal intimidation, these principles aren’t just talking points — they’re our north star.

This moment is unlike any other in our lifetime. But if the summit reminded us of anything, it’s that we are stronger, smarter, and more effective together.

Too often, public service is thankless work. The media doesn’t cover the hours local elected officials and government staff spend navigating bureaucracy, solving problems, or pushing through roadblocks to get basic services delivered. The public doesn’t always see the uphill battles to keep communities housed, safe, and healthy.

Looking ahead

There are dark days ahead. We will continue to see efforts to undermine the work of local government. But leaders across the country are innovating, organizing, and, in important instances, winning. They are what keep me inspired every day.

From potholes to policies, our network members show us what true leadership looks like. We’ve seen just how much we have been able to achieve when we work together. I’m so thankful for the cities and counties here with us in this fight.

Our Local Power Summit illustrates there’s strength in numbers. As we fight against federal overreach, this kind of coalition building is indispensable. And while we don’t know what the future holds, we can still do everything in our power to act now.