Employees of the National Governors Association (NGA) will telework beginning March 16, as the bipartisan association serving the 55 state and territorial governors helps to coordinate state-level responses to the COVID-19 outbreak that has spread to nearly all states.
NGA staff will continue to provide support, coordination and federal advocacy to governors’ offices, which are on the front lines of mitigating the spread of the coronavirus, ensuring treatment to those who need it, and providing support services such as meals to children from lower-income families whose schools are closed.
Through frequent calls with governors’ staff, one-on-one assistance, timely written communications and comprehensive website resources, NGA has been advising states on precedents and best practices in managing a public-health emergency, and coordinating an effective federal-state partnership that ensures that states have the resources they need to treat patients and curb the spread of the virus.
NGA also has coordinated federal advocacy efforts on behalf of governors to ensure adequate state funding for priorities such as National Guard personnel, isolation and quarantines, and public outreach activities. Governors called on Congress to pass the “Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020” (H.R. 6074) in a letter signed by 38 governors. Governors also called on congressional leaders to take swift action and expand liability protections to ensure a supply of respirators needed to support COVID-19 response efforts.
NGA’s telework policy for staff will remain in effect at least through March 27. As always, reach out to the media team with any questions.
