Senate passes CR fix to restore $1.1B to DC's budget​

The US Senate unanimously approved a bill late Friday to restore $1.1 billion to Washington, DC's budget for the current fiscal year, averting significant cuts to essential services. The legislation now awaits consideration by the House of Representatives, which is on recess until next week.

DC's budget, which is funded by local tax revenue rather than federal tax dollars, still requires congressional approval because the US Constitution grants Congress authority over the District. The recently passed continuing resolution inadvertently treated DC as a federal agency, effectively reducing its budget by $1.1 billion. Mayor Muriel Bowser warned that such cuts would necessitate layoffs of teachers, police officers, and firefighters, reduce public transit services, and potentially halt $600 million in development projects, including renovations to Capital One Arena and redevelopments of the St. Elizabeths East campus, Poplar Point, and the McMillan Reservoir. ​

The Senate's corrective measure, co-sponsored by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), received bipartisan support and endorsement from President Donald Trump and House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R-OK). Senator Collins expressed optimism that the House will address the "inequity" in the continuing resolution and pass the Senate bill.

Mayor Bowser is scheduled to hold a news conference at noon Monday, alongside the city's Chief Financial Officer Glen Lee, to discuss the Senate bill and urge the House to approve it promptly upon their return.