The District is encouraging the House to a Senate bill that would restore DC’s FY2025 spending. But, at a press conference Monday, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) also emphasized the District’s financial dependability.
The Senate ed the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 Friday to avert a shut sown and fund the government through September. President Donald Trump (R) signed it into law Saturday. The bill allows federal agencies to spend at FY2024 levels until Congress can finalize FY2025 spending.
But it also treats the District like a federal agency –which it is not. Congress approves the District budget, which like other state budgets is drawn from local revenues and topped with federal funds for programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The District is already 6 months into the FY2025 spending.
The House legislation “lacked the customary language that allows the District to continue operating under the current budget that Congress approved last summer,” Bowser said, referencing phrasing that has been part of the past ten budgets. The mayor noted that it could “potentially” result in a $1 billion reduction in the District’s approved spending. These cuts to local funds, which Bowser said would “not result in one dollar of federal savings,” could “negatively impact” the District’s operations.
Bowser appeared in front of Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee, City Kevin Donahue, Chairman Phil Mendelson and ten of the DC Council, hosted a press conference Monday afternoon to address concerns about the District’s FY 25 budget.
The economy is currently the District’s “biggest biggest” focus, according to Bowser. The DC government has initiated contingency planning to address potential fiscal shortfalls, Bowser added noting the District’s history of “resilience and prudent financial management.”
The Senate also ed the DC Local Funds Act last week. Bowser thanked the senators who advanced the measure. “Now 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.”
According to Bowser, this legislation would “rectify” the language that restricts District spending and “safeguard” the District’s FY25 budget. Bowser said the bill had the of Republicans in Senate as well as President Donald Trump.
Mendelson also spoke about impact of the potential cuts, which he noted would be “very, very difficult to make, if not devastating” to the District. He emphasized that operations would continue while the District government works with the House to “ensure age of this second bill.”
“The District Will Meet Its Obligations”
Contrary to language circulated prior to the Senate vote, Bowser’s tone was reassuring. She said that District would be able to honor its commitments, a statement she repeated when she was asked directly about the $500 million alloted to improvements at Capitol One Arena. She demurred on hypothesizing about funding for RFK Campus.
CFO Lee said that none of the District’s agencies have exceeded spending for the FY2024 budget. “That gives the Mayor and Council time to react to those difficult decisions should the CR become law,” Lee said. Lee said the Mayor and council were working on both scenarios, if the House es the bill restoring FY2025 funding or if they did not. “At the moment I’m confident at the effort that’s underway to cover both scenarios,” Lee said.
Both Lee and Bowser refused to speculate on a deadline for financial decisions. Asked about contingency planning, Bowser said “We haven’t gotten to that stage,” she said. She said that the government has been touch with Representative James Comer (R-KY) but would not drop any other names. “We will follow the federal law and be compliant,” Bowser said. “We will meet our obligations, all of them.”
And Bowser would not guess what the House will do, pointing out that is was unclear if the bill had yet been received by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) as the House is in recess until March 24. She added that Senator Susan Collins had “coordinated” with Rep. Cole and said she had his and that of the President in advancing the bill. Bowser thanked of the Senate Appropriations Committee for their leadership in the advancement of this second piece of legislation.
Bowser highlighted the advocacy of local District residents, students and businesses. “Our home rule is limited, but our voices have been heard,” Bowser said.
But, she added, if DC had to make $1 billion in cuts, they would come from the biggest budget columns: public safety, public schools and human services. But as of now, she said, no such cuts are being considered.
Hylton Questions Mayor
Early on, the press conference was interrupted by the mother of Karon Hylton-Brown. In 2022, two Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers, Terence D. Sutton Jr. and Andrew Zabavsky, 56, were convicted of murder and a cover-up in the October 2020 death of the 20-year-old after an unauthorized pursuit.
Trump pardoned the officers shortly after he took office.
“Did you tell President Trump that Karon was illegal?” Hylton asked Bowser. “No,” said the Mayor. “Do you know the pardons of these officers are very much unconstitutional?” she asked Bowser. As MPD officers surrounded her to escort her from the room, Hylton repeatedly told them, “Do not touch me.”
“I haven’t talked to the President about your son,” Bowser said, before the Hylton was escorted out by officers.
Sarah Payne is a reporter for Capital Community News. She can be reached at [email protected].
With additional reporting from Elizabeth O’Gorek
