District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser is pushing for the House of Representatives to pass legislation restoring full funding to the district government after it was left out of the stopgap funding bill.
The Senate passed a continuing resolution, which did not include restored funding for Washington, and a separate D.C. funding bill on Friday as it raced to avoid a government shutdown. The D.C. bill must now be taken up by the House and signed by President Donald Trump to prevent a scenario local officials claim would be “devastating” for Washington.
Bowser, speaking at a press conference on Monday, renewed her calls for the House to take up the bill. She said the estimated $1 billion in cuts for fiscal 2025 would not save the federal government any funds because they are local dollars. She also expressed confidence a resolution would be reached and that Washington would not have to deal with the cuts.
“We are actively working with our congressional allies to ensure the House of Representatives expedites the approval of this critical bipartisan measure just as soon as possible. So despite these challenges, I want to be clear about this. We will meet our financial obligations, and we will maintain the high standard of services that our residents, businesses, and visitors expect. We’re going to stay focused,” Bowser said.
The mayor added that she would not “leave any stone unturned” to get the House to send the bill to Trump’s desk and said she has spoken with House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s (R-KY) and House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) teams.
D.C. officials have said they are preparing for both scenarios: if the bill passes the House and if it does not.
SENATE PASSES DC FUNDING FIX TO PREVENT $1 BILLION IN CUTS, SHIFTING FIGHT TO HOUSE
Senators on Capitol Hill quickly passed the legislation on Friday to give Washington its funds, with Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME) calling the lack of funds for Washington in the continuing resolution a “serious problem.”
Collins said upon introducing the bill on Friday that the measure had been endorsed by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Trump.