About Us

COG is the one place in metropolitan Washington that regularly brings leaders together to develop solutions to the region's major challenges. COG prepares plans enabling the region to receive federal funding, provides members with research and data to inform decision-making, and offers a wide range of programs, including commuter services, cooperative purchasing, technical assistance and grants, and public outreach campaigns.

Transportation

Through the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), area officials, planners, and engineers ensure a well-managed and maintained transportation system. The TPB, which is staffed by COG, conducts the federally mandated transportation planning process for the region and ensures the uninterrupted flow of federal transportation funds that area jurisdictions receive.

Environment

COG's work engages leaders in various environmental fields from water quality experts to climate scientists. Together, they are advancing regional efforts to restore local waterways, improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change, promote recycling, and enhance and preserve green space and agriculture.

Community & Economy

Area officials and experts, including planning and housing directors and child welfare and health officials, work together with their counterparts at COG to help shape stronger communities throughout the region.

Homeland Security & Public Safety

COG brings police chiefs, fire chiefs, emergency managers, and other leaders together as part of its work to strengthen regional public safety coordination, homeland security planning, and emergency communication.

Homeland Security & Public Safety

News

News Highlight

Regional leaders discuss January 2026 storm response and recovery efforts

February 18, 2026

The COG Board of Directors evaluated the regional response to the major January 2026 winter storm during its recent meeting.
News Highlight

Video: Board Chair Rodney Lusk highlights year of next-level collaboration

January 7, 2026

2025 Board Chair Rodney Lusk shares some examples of how COG brought our region together in the past year.
News Release

Report: 26 percent decrease in impaired driving fatalities

December 22, 2025

The How Safe Are Our Roads? Report, prepared for the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG),...
News Highlight

National forum brings together leaders to reimagine the future of public safety

November 14, 2025

From November 4–6, more than 120 law enforcement executives, researchers, and public safety experts from across the country and around the world gathered at the...
News Highlight

Video: Responding to emergencies, regionally

July 8, 2025

COG brings together public safety officials from across the region to ensure ongoing communication, joint training, and coordinated emergency planning. While...