The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) pleaded for the Federal government shutdown to end, as the organization’s Circuit Rider Program faced a “stop work order” on November 1. NRWA issued a news release on October 30, one day shy of the one-month mark since the shutdown began.
“The Circuit Rider Program is a cornerstone of rural water support. These experts are the first line of defense in maintaining safe, reliable water service in small communities. Any disruption to this program directly impacts public health and the stability of rural systems,” says Geoff Slick, AE2S Rural Water Practice Leader.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) previously committed to extending the Circuit Rider contract, which was set to expire on November 1. USDA Rural Development infrastructure loans and grants have been frozen since the shutdown began, and NRWA says communication with State and local offices has stopped.
The NRWA news release says, “Rural Development project awards are delayed and leave small and rural system projects susceptible to supply chain issues, inflation, and additional costs. When these channels are frozen, communities face delays in critical projects, disruptions in service, and uncertainty about future funding. This is not just a bureaucratic inconvenience – it’s a direct threat to public health and local economies.”
According to the NRWA, the Circuit Rider Program serves all 50 States and Puerto Rico. The 132 water experts called Circuit Riders provide hands-on training and technical assistance for the operations and management of small, rural water systems 24 hours per day, 365 days a year at no cost to local communities. Their assistance includes filling vacant operator positions to maintain public health in communities across the country. Operational and infrastructure repair and support are also key pieces of the Circuit Rider Program, as the water experts routinely respond to emergencies and natural disasters.
“We call on Congress and the Administration to prioritize reopening the government. Rural communities deserve stability, support, and a functioning system that honors their contributions and meets their needs,” says the NRWA release. “The stop work order leaves rural systems in every state vulnerable and without critical support in the event of natural and man-made emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, ice storms, and contamination crises.”