Latest news with #DCLocalFundsAct
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘We need a Hail Mary now': DC workers lobby Congress to pass budget fix
WASHINGTON () — District of Columbia and federal workers rallied together Wednesday to lobby members of Congress to restore D.C.'s budget. Workers with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) took to Capitol Hill to meet with Congressional leaders to put the DC Local Funds Act up for a vote, which would allow D.C. to spend its own funds. Though the Senate already passed the bill, some House representatives say they won't support it. If it does not pass, the District will need to cut about $400 million from its budget. Officials, advocates urge House to pass DC Local Funds Act to restore budget Representative Andy Harris (R-Md.) released a statement, saying in part, 'We should use this opportunity to make certain that DC isn't wasting money on ideas like DEI or reparations.' Meanwhile, President Donald Trump previously called on the House through social media to take up the D.C. funding fix and get it done immediately. 'We're asking these representatives in the House to pass this bill, make it quick, restore our money, particularly because this is not federal money, doesn't save the federal Government a cent, instead it is DC taxpayer money that we already have in the bank,' said D.C. worker Yona Bromberg Gaber. Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say The bill is intended to be a budget fix after Congress passed a spending plan in March that forced D.C. to revert to its 2024 spending levels. 'The money is there and we need to have these funds released,' said D.C. worker Deirdra James. 'If they're not released, that could result in hiring freezes, no overtime and furloughs. I've gone on furlough before and it is … cruelty.' 'It is the fourth quarter, two minutes on the clock and we need a Hail Mary now,' James continued. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘If it somehow sounds like there's anger in my voice, there is': Tensions rise as DC Council waits for the 2026 budget
WASHINGTON () — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Wednesday announced a $100 million investment in the Housing Production Trust Fund under her proposed 2026 budget. The announcement came as the Mayor celebrated a ribbon cutting and grand opening at the Riggs Crossing Senior Residence, a new 93-unit affordable housing development supported through the Housing Production Trust Fund (HPTF). The HPTF is a dedicated fund that helps support affordable housing in the District. 'My fiscal 2026 budget is a growth budget,' Bowser said. 'It's about creating economic activity to replace a shrinking federal footprint and it's about investing in our future. This $100 million investment in affordable housing is part of that vision for our future.' Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say Still, the announcement happened as tensions over the 2026 budget continue to rise. 'There are press releases and press conferences and what we need is for the Mayor to focus on getting this supplemental done,' said DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, who criticized the Mayor during a legislative meeting Tuesday. 'If it somehow sounds like there's anger in my voice, there is. Because the legislature has been played on this.' The full 2026 budget was supposed to be delivered to the DC Council on April 2 — however, that still hasn't happened. 'We have no interest in hoarding the budget. We are done, we're talking about it, we want it to move. We have some things that need to happen,' Bowser said. According to the Mayor, her administration is waiting to deliver the full 2026 budget until it has more clarity on the fate of the current 2025 budget. That budget is in limbo after Congress passed a spending plan in March that reverted D.C. to its 2024 spending levels. The Senate passed the DC Local Funds Act, fixing this issue. However, the House hasn't passed the legislation, leaving D.C. with a multimillion-dollar gap in its 2025 budget. 'It's simply not true that we're holding [the 2026 budget] up for kicks. We're waiting to get some resolution on the 2025 issue. … I think I'm in agreement with the CFO, that we're at the time where if there aren't fixes, we're going to have to balance 2025,' Bowser explained. 'This is not the right investment for our city': Washington Commanders RFK Stadium deal draws mixed reactions from DC Council Mendelson did not agree with the assertion that the council cannot receive the 2026 budget until the 2025 budget is fixed, however. 'The continuing resolution issue in Congress has no bearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget,' he said. On Tuesday, he and the council passed a resolution requiring the Mayor to deliver the 2026 budget to them by May 15. Otherwise, Mendelson said he'll take legal action. 'We have a limited time, we have roughly eight weeks to consider a $20 billion budget. It's all-consuming,' said Mendelson. 'The council has 70 days by law. When they get the package, they have 70 days to look, no matter when they get it,' said Bowser. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Public safety agencies react to proposed hiring, overtime freezes in DC
WASHINGTON () — District agencies are responding to a mayoral order that freezes hiring and spending by government employees. The order came down on Tuesday, as Mayor Muriel Bowser tries to fill a $1 billion budget gap. The gap was created after Congress passed a spending plan last month that reverted D.C. to its 2024 spending levels, despite Congress having already approved the 2025 budget. The Senate passed the DC Local Funds Act to address the issue and allow D.C. to continue spending at 2025 levels, however, the House went on recess without passing it. DC mayor announces significant freezes after Congress's $1.1 billion budget slash 'We just really need Congress to act to address this fix because right now what's happening, [District officials are] calculating potential cuts to smooth over that upwards of $1 billion that Congress cut from the District's budget,' said David Hoagland, President of the DC Firefighters Association. Hoagland said the spending freezes are worrisome. 'It's obviously concerning,' he said. 'We're just concerned if people call 911 today, they won't get the same help they would before the budget cuts.' According to the Mayor's order, hiring, bonuses and promotions are frozen across all D.C. agencies. Overtime spending is frozen as of April 27, while furloughs and the closure of some District facilities could occur. Public safety agencies are not exempt from these restrictions, although agencies are permitted to submit a waiver for consideration. DC to implement freeze on hiring, overtime as it prepares for massive budget cuts 'It would be pretty catastrophic [if a waiver wasn't granted],' explained Hoagland. Gregg Pemberton, Chairman of the DC Police Union, agrees. 'It's really concerning to see the department might be eliminating overtime and then a close second would be freezing hiring for the department,' he said. Pemberton said response times and patrols are in jeopardy if the police department isn't granted a waiver. 'Quite a bit of the manpower that's out there on any given day is due to overtime,' he explained. 'Residents can absolutely expect to see significantly less officers on their street, fewer officers responding to serious events — and that's a concern.' He also said a hiring freeze will impact ongoing efforts to bring the police force back to pre-pandemic staffing levels. Officials, advocates urge House to pass DC Local Funds Act to restore budget 'A hiring freeze will absolutely bring that to a screeching halt and we will not be able to at all compete with the number of people leaving,' said Pemberton. According to District officials, waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The City Administrator is expected to present a plan for furloughs and facility closures to the Mayor by April 25. The House will return to session on April 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DC to implement freeze on hiring, overtime as it prepares for massive budget cuts
WASHINGTON () – D.C. will immediately freeze hiring, bonuses and promotions as the District prepares to make massive budget cuts in the coming weeks. Overtime will be frozen starting April 27. The changes come after the House failed to pass the DC Local Funds Act before recessing last week. DC mayor sends letter to Congress to increase District budget by 6% The legislation was intended to be a budget fix after Congress passed a spending plan in March that reverted D.C. back to its 2024 budget, effectively cutting the District's budget by $1 billion immediately. The District was able to find a budget workaround under a 2009 law that allows it to increase its spending in some cases by notifying Congress. That will limit the impact to about $410 million. 'I can only tell you have frustrating it is,' said Mayor Muriel Bowser. 'Immediately, we will limit spending in the government. I will notify all mayoral agencies, and we will be earnestly planning a revised 2025 budget that reflects those changes.' On Tuesday, the Mayor sent out an order titled 'Extraordinary Measures to Address Congressionally-Imposed Cuts to the District's Fiscal Year 2025 Budget.' According to the order, hiring for all executive branch agencies is frozen. However, individuals who received a written job offer on or before April 14 and have a confirmed start date before May 5 are exempt. It's unclear how many open positions this will impact. Congress unveils spending bill that includes funding for Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild Overtime will be frozen starting on April 27, with no agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department, DC Fire and EMS or the Office of Unified Communications, specifically exempt. In the meantime, the City Administrator will draft a plan for employee furloughs and the closure of government facilities. That plan will be presented to the Mayor by April 25. Some facilities, including DC Public Schools, St. Elizabeth's Hospital, shelters and more, are exempt. Employees will not be paid while furloughed. The order also states that the City Administrator may take additional actions, including 'early termination of contracts, leases, grants and agreements; reductions in force and other employee layoffs; and reductions to any other category of expenditures,' if deemed appropriate. Agencies can submit waivers requesting an exemption from the overtime restrictions and other freezes outlined in the order. Those will be considered on a rolling, case-by-case basis. Officials, advocates urge House to pass DC Local Funds Act to restore budget The City Administrator will submit a supplemental budget to the council for approval. That is expected sometime after April 25. City officials said the plan must be in place by July 1, but that cuts, closures and furloughs could happen before that. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DC set to celebrate 20th anniversary of Emancipation Day holiday with parade, festival
WASHINGTON () — D.C. will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Emancipation Day holiday this weekend. President Abraham Lincoln signed the D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act into law on April 16, 1862, freeing 3,100 enslaved people in the District and compensating their owners. The move came nine months before the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. 'Where is Kilmar Abrego Garcia now?': Attorney for deported Maryland man speaks after court hearing In 2005, the D.C. Council officially designated the day as a local holiday. 'It's a very significant day of our city's history,' said LaToya Foster, Director of Entertainment for the District. 'The Emancipation Day holiday, it's a time of unity, it's a time of resilience, we do education for people on Statehood.' The celebration begins with a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue at 2 p.m. on Sunday. That'll be followed by a festival and concert at Freedom Plaza starting at 4 p.m. Performers include Anthony Hamilton, Chante Moore, Tim Bowman and the Faith City Crank Crusaders, DJ Kool, and Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir. The day ends with fireworks starting at 8:30 p.m. 'It's a family-friendly event, it's intergenerational, there's something for everyone of the household,' said Foster. Officials, advocates urge House to pass DC Local Funds Act to restore budget The celebration comes as the premise of freedom is in question in D.C. 'I frequently reflect on what it means, though especially in the context of these budget disputes,' said Mayor Muriel Bowser, who said that until Statehood is achieved, citizens will never be fully free. Currently, D.C. is in limbo as it waits for the House to pass the DC Local Funds Act, which would restore $1 billion in funding that Congress cut from DC's local budget last month. The House left for a two-week recess without considering the measure. Additionally, D.C. residents are pushing back against the Trump Administration, which has attempted to extend power over the District. The President recently launched a federal task force to 'Make DC Safe and Beautiful.' 'I've called us free-ish,' Bowser said. 'We're free-ish as citizens until we have two Senators and complete autonomy.' According to Foster, there will be educational opportunities on Statehood at the festival. DC Mayor provides recommendations for Trump's 'Make DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force' The day is intended to bring unity to the community. 'When people are going through things, there's nothing better than being around others, it helps lift your spirits and lift you up. This is a time we want to life each other up,' she said. For more information about the event, click . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
