Federal Government Shutdown Threatens Great Lakes Restoration Progress and Clean Water Protections

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, 734-887-7113

Federal Government Shutdown Threatens Great Lakes Restoration Progress and Clean Water Protections

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (October 1, 2025)—The first federal government shutdown since 2018 threatens ongoing work to restore the Great Lakes and safeguard clean drinking water for more than 30 million people across the region and broader country. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is urging federal policymakers to find a path forward that funds restoration efforts and critical clean water monitoring and protection activities.

“A federal government shutdown is a threat to the communities, economies, and wildlife of the Great Lakes,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Congress must find a path forward, securing agreement on a full year funding solution that provides the resources necessary to preserve crucial Great Lakes and clean water programs.”

“A shutdown puts the drinking water supply for over 30 million people at risk, slowing restoration efforts across the region and putting critical clean water monitoring and protection activities on hold,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “With further threats of mass staff terminations and funding freezes, the local-state-federal cooperation to protect and restore our waters is at a tipping point. We call on Congress and the Administration to come to an agreement as quickly as possible and avoid the irreparable harm that can ensue in a prolonged shutdown.”

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 200 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on social media @HealthyLakes.