Advocates are wondering what Congress could do next to flex its authority over the nation’s capital, after a scramble over unexpected budget cuts sent hundreds of locals and their kids to plead with lawmakers at the Capitol.
“This funding bill issue is really reminding a lot of people of the vulnerabilities that D.C. has because we are not a state, and the fact that Congress oversees our funding,” said Alex Dodds, co-founder of Free DC, an advocacy project that helped organize the rallies this week.
When Republicans put together their stopgap funding plan for the rest of the fiscal year, they left out language that would allow the District to keep operating under its own already-set budget. Local officials said it would force them to slash $1.1 billion for teachers, cops and more.
