Joe Trauger
President & CEO National Club Association September 2, 2025
Situational Awareness
Congress returns to Washington this week after a month-plus break from the Capitol. Their return and the looming end of the fiscal year mean focus will be on government funding for fiscal year 2026. With only 28 days before the current fiscal year expires, it appears unlikely that Congress will be able to pass a funding bill without at least temporarily relying on continuing resolutions (CRs).
With President Trump recently announcing the use of controversial “pocket rescissions,” Democratic members, particularly in the Senate, are likely to face the Sophie’s choice of working on a bipartisan appropriations bill (and the CRs needed to buy the time necessary to complete it) that they are skeptical will be fully honored by the administration, or risk a significant portion of blame for shutting down the government.
No Tax on Tips Occupations List
This morning, Axios reported that the Trump administration has shared a list of 68 occupations that will qualify under the “no tax on tips” provision of the Big, Beautiful Law. The Treasury Department is currently finalizing regulations that will govern how the administration will implement the new policy and will include the list in its publication. In addition to highly reported positions such as food servers, bartenders and casino dealers, golf caddies and sports and recreation instructors are also explicitly included.
Appellate Court: Trump Tariffs are Illegal (but will continue through mid-October)
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., ruled in a 7-4 vote that President Trump overstepped his authority in issuing sweeping reciprocal tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) he issued in response to the national emergency he declared in April. Foreseeing the Trump administration’s desire to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, the appellate court stayed its ruling until Oct. 14 to grant the White House time to file its appeal, which the president has vowed to do.
Immigrant Workforce Declining
Analysis of preliminary census data suggests the U.S. has lost nearly 1.2 million immigrant workers since January as President Trump has followed through on his promise to strictly enforce immigration laws. While that number is a small fraction of the 100-million-plus US workforce, certain industries that rely more heavily on immigrant labor, particularly agriculture and construction, have noted localized disruptions to businesses.
NCA has Moved!
Beginning Sept. 1, 2025, NCA relocated its offices to the CMAA headquarters in Alexandria, Va.—just a few blocks from our former location. This exciting move positions NCA alongside another leading voice in the club community while allowing us to remain fully independent with our own leadership, governance and mission. By co-locating, we can build on recent collaborations with CMAA, explore new opportunities together and create meaningful synergies that strengthen our services, resources and advocacy efforts. You can find us at 1733 King St., Suite 300, Alexandria, Va., 22314.
Thursday, September 11 at 2 p.m. ET, join NCA and GGA Partners for findings from the 2025 Club Board Perspectives research. Learn how leading boards plan strategically, strengthen governance, adapt membership access and align dining philosophy to meet member expectations and ensure long-term success. Free to the private club community. Register here.
Your brand tells members who you are and where you’re going—does your club’s identity match its vision? On Thursday, September 25 at 2 p.m. ET, hear from Derek Sussner and Don Kovacovich on how to refine your value proposition, streamline offerings, and communicate a strong brand strategy. Free for NCA members, $99 for nonmembers. Register here.
