Q: According to a Department of War estimate from August 2026, how much (in terms of taxpayer funds) will the extension of the National Guard to 2029 in Washington, D.C. cost?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

Harassment Continues as Neighbors Attempt to Document

Just a few days ago, we saw yet another example of the ongoing intimidation tactics being used on our streets. A D.C. father reports that he was knocked down and arrested by an MPD officer while filming a federal operation taking place in his neighborhood. Here’s the coverage from WUSA9.

National Guard & Federal Agents Staging at Elementary School Campus

The Wheatley Elementary School Campus parking (pre-K-8) lot was, until recently, being used as a staging area in the Trinidad neighborhood of NE D.C. D.C. residents continue to object to the unnecessary presence of armed military troops in our residential neighborhoods.

What do Real People Serving as National Guard Say?

As one would expect, when National Guard troops are deployed under circumstances that do not meet the normal definition of an emergency, people notice the difference. This week, NPR spoke with National Guard members deployed in D.C. to share their perspectives.

As the calendar reaches the end of August, the number of troops has dropped to 3,807, down from a high of about 5,000. Troops from HI, LA, NV, WY, and the Virgin Islands are scheduled to return home at the end of August, since they were deployed specifically to be “focused on public safety, event support, and coordination with civil authority partners.”

Take Action: Write to Governors!

Use this form from Free DC to send a letter to the governors who still have National Guard troops deployed in D.C.

August is Also About Celebrating and Defending the Vote

• On August 26th, The 1882 Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about the Chinese Exclusion Laws and preserving Chinese and Asian American history in the United States, hosted “Celebrating Women’s Suffrage” at Friendship Archway in Washington, D.C. This day in 1920 was the day that the 19th Amendment was ratified, giving many women in the U.S. the right to vote. The D.C. League of Women Voters, newly established in 1920, noted that they were the “Voteless” League of Women Voters as were many others not yet included in the franchise. Nevertheless, August 26th marks a day to celebrate the extension of the right to vote.

• The 63rd Anniversary of the March on Washington: Defend the Vote is taking place today, August 28th, at the Lincoln Memorial with the mission to Defend Voting Rights, Protect Civil Rights, and Advocate for Economic Justice. Among the 1000s turning out are members of the League of Women Voters from DC, MD and VA, along with many allies.

D.C. Good News Snippets

And just because folks like to have fun, here is a zany stunt that took place on August 15th. If you love apples like Carl Endrulat, please join in spirit the thousands who RSVP’d and enjoy an excellent apple on your own or with your friends!

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Trivia Answer: $1.4 billion

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Q: When did Washington, D.C. abolish the death penalty?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

National Guard From 15 States and 2 Territories Still Here

The Joint Task Force-DC reported on August 18th that National Guard troops posted in Washington, D.C., including D.C. National Guard, numbered 4,440. These troops include units from 15 states (AL, AK, AR, FL, GA, HI*, ID, IA, LA*, MI*, MS, NE*, SC, WV, WY*) and 2 territories (P.R. and V.I.*). Those marked with an asterisk were sent specifically to support events marking the 250th anniversary through the end of August.

The National Guard Bureau has reported that it has signed a contract for nearly $300 million to house National Guard troops posted to Washington, D.C. in short-term apartments. This is during a documented housing shortage in D.C., particularly for extremely low-income renters, with only 37 affordable homes available for every 100 households in need.

In the meantime, National Guard troops are using a DCPS parking lot as a staging area for their patrols of the Trinidad neighborhood. The parking lot, now filled with military vehicles and armed soldiers, is part of the Wheatley Elementary Campus that serves pre-K-8th grade children.

Bill to Reinstate Death Penalty in D.C. Introduced in Congress

Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC-1) introduced the Restoring the Death Penalty in the District of Columbia Act (H.R.10098). If passed, the bill would overturn the 1980 vote by the D.C. Council to abolish the death penalty in the city. The repeal has remained in effect since 1981. In 1992, residents of the District voted on a referendum that would have restored the death penalty. However, the referendum was unsuccessful.

For the record, the latest count of attacks on D.C. Home Rule in the 119th Congress stands at 135, including stand-alone bills, amendments and riders. For comparison, anti-Home Rule attacks in the 114th Congress numbered 30.

D.C. Good News Snippets

• D.C.’s School Without Walls placed fifth in a new U.S. News and World Report ranking of the nation’s best high schools, jumping from 69th place last year, WTOP reports.

• Nine different species of birds were heard in a 2 ½ minute period in a backyard in Northeast D.C. filled with native plants on August 20th: Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Mourning Dove, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Tufted Titmouse.

• Join Mayor Bowser and District Officials to Clap Our Students Back to School on August 24!

• Bottle Bill signs are going up throughout the city as the campaign to build support for the legislation swings back into gear. The D.C. Council is expected to vote on the bill after they return from the summer recess in mid-September. LWVDC Climate Team members Paula Hirschoff (left) and Judy Smith spent Sunday afternoon, August 16, placing signs along 16^th Street for commuters to read on their way to work. Reminder: Even if the D.C. Council passes the Bottle Bill and the Mayor signs it, Congress must still review the bill and allow it to become law.

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Trivia Answer: The death penalty in Washington, D.C. was formally abolished in 1981, and executions under local law have not occurred since 1957.

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Q: In the U.S., whose residents “pay more taxes than residents in 19 states and pay more per capita to the federal government than any state?”

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

It Has Been a Year…

August 11, 2026 marked a year of military occupation here in Washington, D.C. The first 11 days of August were focused on various parts of our community who have suffered from what has become about 5,000 troops patrolling in our neighborhoods. The Free DC press conference this past Tuesday was the culmination of the 11 days. An “Open Letter Supporting a Free DC and Marking One Year of Occupation” was published on August 11th and signed by more than 240 national groups, faith congregations, elected leaders, and local organizations.

ACLU-DC Presented “Troops in the Nation’s Capital: One Year Later”

The well-attended national virtual program hosted by ACLU-DC was held on Tuesday evening. Use this link to view the video.

Troops to Stay Through 2029 — But Not Without Objection

The Pentagon has announced a plan to keep National Guard troops posted in Washington, D.C. through Inauguration Day 2029, ending any pretense that the troops are here because of a horrible crime wave. As of August 11th, according to the Joint Task Force–DC, there were 4,629 National Guard troops deployed to D.C., including the D.C. National Guard and troops from 17 states. The League of Women Voters released their own statement objecting to the ongoing military occupation of Washington, D.C.

Taking Action

We need people who believe in freedom and equality who live in states to take action! Clearly, Congress doesn’t care what D.C. residents want, and we don’t have a vote, so they need to hear from you. Non-D.C. residents: Tell Congress to stop interfering with D.C. D.C. residents: please use the link to send a message of appreciation to our non-voting Delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, for her good work for us.

In the Meantime … D.C. Neighborhoods Maintain Strong Community/Civic Pride!

Read the post from Austin Graff and see photos highlighting one of D.C.’s many unique neighborhoods below!

To view more photos of the Edgewood neighborhood, see the full post here.

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Trivia Answer: Washington, D.C.

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Q: How much local D.C. money did Washington, D.C., lose through a Congressional continuing resolution in 2025?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

The Protests Continue

A group of 80-somethings have been making noise, literally and figuratively, to bring attention to D.C. Since last August, when the National Guard first arrived in D.C., the neighbors have been coming out with their pots and pans from 7:00 pm to 7:05 pm each evening to stir up noise in protest. Those who can’t participate have hung D.C. flags on their balconies to show their support for the cause.

National Guard Update

For the record, the number of states and territories contributing National Guard contingents posted in Washington, D.C. is now down to 17, although there are still 4,630 troops patrolling. The Pentagon has now confirmed that National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C. through 2029 will cost an estimated $1.4 billion taxpayer dollars.

American Civil Liberties Union Activities

• Decorated Veteran Assaulted by National Guard Troops in D.C. Files Legal Claim to Challenge Abuse

  • On May 8, 2026, Anna King was sitting on her front patio when three National Guard members walked through her gate, told her that she was detained, and violently restrained her.

  • King, a retired Army captain, suffered significant injuries from the incident, including in her wrist, which required surgery.

  • Filed by the ACLU of D.C. and the law firm Levy Firestone Muse, LLP, this claim is one of 54 filed by the ACLU and its affiliates across 17 states under the Federal Tort Claims Act that seek justice for people harmed by federal agents.

• Join ACLU-DC virtually to discuss “Troops in the Nation’s Capital: One Year Later”: August 11, 8:00 pm, EDT.

  • For more information and to register, click here.

Participate in 11 Days of Action

Below is the plan from Free DC for the rest of the week to mark the disastrous effects of one year of occupation by the National Guard. (The events began on August 1.)

• Saturday, August 8: “Justice for DC Youth” + Film the Police Training

  12 pm - 1 pm near Anacostia Metro Station (Location shared upon RSVP.)

• Sunday, August 9: “Celebrating Malcolm X Park”

  5 pm - 8 pm in Malcolm X Park by the Joan of Arc statue

• Monday, August 10: “Justice for Unhoused Neighbors + Community Noisemaking”

  6 pm - 7 pm in Franklin Park

• Tuesday, August 11: “One Year In, End the DC Occupation”

  10 am - 11 am near Farragut North (Location shared upon RSVP.)

If you live in D.C., please participate as you can. If you live in the 50 states, are you okay with how Congress is treating the more than 700,000 people who live in D.C.? Please let your member of Congress know how you feel and spread awareness among your friends and contacts.

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Trivia Answer: $1.1 billion

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Q: According to a 2022 Economist/You Gov poll, what did the plurality of Americans support for D.C.?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

Standing Up for Full Rights for D.C. Citizens

Last week we saw, on video, what Representative Pete Sessions thinks of people who live in Washington, D.C. We also saw the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform pass a bill that undermines D.C.’s capacity to use our own locally-raised tax dollars to run our own programs according to our D.C.-based values and decisions.

We know that it is up to the people in the 50 states to make D.C. a state — states that have votes in Congress, which D.C. does not have. And we are still standing up for ourselves in many ways in our many communities — mutual aid, monitoring National Guard and federal agency activities, letting our elected officials know about our concerns and problems, and more. We also celebrate our people! Here’s a new mural, recently officially unveiled:

Below is the plan from Free DC to mark the disastrous effects of one year of occupation by the National Guard, starting on August 1st and continuing through to mark the August 11th date of the year of occupation.

Saturday, August 1: “Justice for Julian Bailey”

6PM near Judiciary Square

Sunday, August 2: “Justice for Nolberto Meza”

6PM near Woodley Park

Monday, August 3: “13,000 Arrests + Pirro’s Lies”

12PM near Judiciary Square

Tuesday, August 4: “Justice for DC Workers”

6PM near Gallery Place/Chinatown

Wednesday, August 5: “Justice for DC’s Students and Schools”

6PM near Fort Totten

Thursday, August 6: Freedom Dreaming, Session 3

6PM in Ward 6

Friday, August 7: “Delete DoorDash”

6PM, location details shared upon registration

Saturday, August 8: “Justice for DC Youth” + Film the Police Training

6PM near Navy Yard

Sunday, August 9: “Celebrating Malcolm X Park”

5PM - 7PM in Malcolm X Park

Monday, August 10: “Justice for Unhoused Neighbors + Community Noisemaking”

6PM in Franklin Park

Tuesday, August 11: “One Year In, End the DC Occupation”

10AM near Farragut North

If you live in D.C. please participate as you can. If you live in the 50 states, are you okay with how Congress is treating the 700,000 people who live in D.C.? Please let your member of Congress know how you feel and spread awareness among your friends and contacts.

Another Anti-Home Rule Bill Introduced

This week, Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL) introduced a bill (S. 5147) to “establish requirements for patriotic observances in elementary and secondary schools of the District of Columbia.” This now brings the total of anti-Home Rule bills introduced in the current session of Congress to 71.

To stay updated on the latest developments, see our spreadsheet here.

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Trivia Answer: D.C. Statehood

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Join us at the Washington Spirit’s Women’s Empowerment Night on July 26 at Audi Field. LWVDC will have a table to engage game goers but we also have a group of discounted tickets in one section offered by the Spirit for our members and friends!

The game starts at 7 pm. Get your tickets here.

Who needs the World Cup? We’ve got the Spirit!

Congress Moving to Undermine D.C.’s Finances – Again

Last week, Rep. James Comer (R-KY) introduced the “D.C. Taxing Authority Review Act” (H.R. 9720), which would require Congress to affirmatively approve any change D.C. made to our tax code, our fee schedules, and many of our regulations. If not approved, any such law passed by our elected D.C. Council, would die. Our non-voting Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton has declared that, if enacted, this bill would be the biggest rollback of D.C.’s Home Rule since 1973. Current law is bad enough because D.C. must submit its Council-passed legislation to Congress for a 30 or 60-day review period. If Congress doesn’t pass a “disapproval resolution” they become D.C. law. This bill is a clear attempt to undermine D.C.’s elected officials’ ability to manage our finances and govern effectively. This week, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed it on a party line vote. LWVDC members were in the hearing room to show their opposition to the bill.

LWVUS sent a letter to members of the Committee objecting to the bill noting that it is "the latest in a long line of attacks on DC's democracy." The House now goes on recess until August 31st, so there is plenty of time to discuss concerns with your member of Congress while they are back in their districts.

Taking Action

We need supporters who live in states to take action! Clearly, Congress doesn’t care what D.C. residents want, so they need to hear from you. Tell Congress to stop interfering with D.C. D.C. residents, please send to family and friends in states with representation.

Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud on Tape: D.C. Residents Are 2nd Class Citizens

By permission from the filmer, we offer the July 22 video of Representative Pete Sessions saying that we don’t have the same rights as other Americans and that he thinks the D.C. resident speaking with him is less capable than other Americans.

Showcasing the Beauty of D.C.

D.C. is filled with vibrant communities and spaces. Pictured below is the Third Street Art Garden located in the NoMa neighborhood. One of D.C.’s newer parks, it is surrounded by murals and green space.

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Q: According to a 2022 Economist/You Gov poll, what did the plurality of Americans support for D.C.?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

National Guard Slated to Stay in D.C. Through 2029

The Pentagon has announced that the National Guard troops are expected to be stationed in Washington, D.C. through 2029. That’s another two and a half years!

The number of National Guard reached 5000, but several governors have now scheduled recalls of their troops. D.C.-based organizations and many national organizations are calling on governors in the 20 states who have soldiers deployed to D.C. to bring them home.

These deployments in D.C. and in other places are not about “fighting crime,” but about extending authoritarian power at taxpayer expense. The Center for American Progress took on the question of whether the presence of National Guard contingents was affecting crime statistics.

Action Needed!

Americans who live in the 50 states are the ones who have governors who sent their National Guard to D.C. They are the ones who must bring them home. Tell them to stop participating in the occupation of D.C., stop misusing their National Guard troops, and recall them so they can be available when their state faces emergencies.

Free DC has made it simple to take action: you can send a letter to the governors by clicking this link.

Good Trouble Lives On in Washington, D.C.

How to Participate in Good Trouble This Weekend in D.C.

Saturday, July 18 — VIRTUAL Good Trouble - Reach Voters across the Country! (3:00pm - 5:00pm)

Join NextGen America, Voto Latino, Common Cause, Public Citizen, and League of Women Voters as we call and text thousands of voters across the country, in honor of Good Trouble Lives On! This event is virtual - all you need to join is your energy!

Register to participate here.

Sunday, July 19 — Solidarity Sing at All Souls Church Unitarian (11:45am - 12:30pm)

As part of the “Good Trouble Lives On” Weekend of Action to Continue the Legacy of John Lewis, please join the Solidarity Sing at All Souls Church Unitarian (1500 Harvard St NW) on the 16th St. steps (outside) of All Souls Church.

Register to attend here.

You can find other events (including for those outside D.C., from July 17-19) here.

Please Note: The candle light vigil originally set to take place tonight (July 17th) at Franklin Park will be rescheduled due to hazardous weather conditions. Please check this link for the most up-to-date information.

69th Anti-Home Rule Bill Introduced in Congress

In yet another effort to attack D.C.’s autonomy, Rep. James Comer (R-KY-1) introduced legislation this week (H.R. 9720) that would require congressional approval of any act passed by D.C. that imposes a tax or fee. This brings the total of anti-Home Rule bills introduced in this session of Congress to 69.

To review the bills and stay up-to-date, see our spreadsheet here.

Highlighting the Beauty of D.C. — We Keep on Keeping on

A note from Austin Graff, 7/13/26, on Next Door: “If you only stay along the National Mall when visiting Washington, D.C., you’ll miss seeing the human side of D.C. To see community beyond politics, go to the capital’s neighborhoods like Brookland. Along Girard Street NE and 15th Street NE is a garden or wild flowers for anyone to enjoy. Above the flowers is a street sign with a handmade note that reads, “Wild Flowers. Pick some!” Above the note is a pair of scissors. It’s an act of kindness that spreads joy throughout the community only found in D.C.’s neighborhoods.”

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Trivia Answer: D.C. Statehood

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Q: In August 2025, who became the first president to attempt to take control of D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department by declaring an emergency, even though D.C. elected officials had not done so?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

National Guard Still Here in D.C.

The big day, July 4th, 2026, has been celebrated. The pretext for having nearly 5,000 troops in D.C. is over. Win Without War, on July 9th, in their call for troops to be withdrawn from D.C., points out that this number of military personnel is “the equivalent of eight army battalions.” It is past time that all National Guard contingents go home to the 24 states that deployed them, if they have not already been withdrawn (at this writing, the governors of NC, MN, and MD have committed to removing their troops this weekend and KY troops have been recalled).

D.C. Council Requests Withdrawal of National Guard from MI and U.S. VI

The D.C. Council has sent letters to Governor Albert Bryan Jr. of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan thanking them for their event-specific assistance during the America 250 celebrations and asking them to promptly withdraw their troops now that those events are concluded. The Council wrote to Governor Whitmer that: “We particularly appreciate your public direction that Michigan personnel were deployed to support these specific events and were not to participate in the Trump administration’s broader ‘D.C. Safe and Beautiful’ mission or general law enforcement operations. That distinction is important. Temporary assistance for a defined national celebration is fundamentally different from participation in an open-ended federal operation involving military patrols and law enforcement support in District neighborhoods.”

Action: Write to Governors — Win Without War Call

National organizations have joined in to urge governors to withdraw their troops now.

Win Without War is one of them. Here is their message from July 9th, in part:

“Tell Governors: Withdraw Your National Guard and Keep Troops Out of Our Communities…

…As an organization committed to peace, we refuse to see our communities militarized and troops weaponized against the people they’re sworn to protect. We haven’t forgotten about Trump’s domestic deployments, and we won’t stop speaking out or responding with our vision of a world where people live and thrive free from violence.

We aren’t powerless in the face of Trump’s authoritarian power grab. State governors still maintain control and command of these National Guard troops.

That means the same governors who have helped normalize soldiers on our streets also have the power to say “no more” by recalling their National Guard forces. But they aren’t likely to act without public pressure, which is why we’re sending a resounding message to ALL governors reminding them that troops don’t belong on our streets.”

Add your name to Governors across the country.

Statehood Stories: Highlighting Voices of D.C. Residents

While Washington, D.C. is known for its monuments and sightseeing, it is also home to 700,000 residents who currently have no representation in Congress. As Americans, we should all care about this issue - fairness & equality matter in a democracy! This week, we will once again be sharing a snippet of Nan Raphael’s story, captured in November 2025. To read the full interview, please click the link here.

Name: Nan Raphael

Occupation: Freelance Professional Musician; Former Military Band Piccoloist (U.S. Army Field Band)

Hometown: Washington, DC

Could you talk about your own experience being disenfranchised, or in other words, what it has been like to lose the rights you had when you were living in one of the 50 states?

I’ve been aware of it practically since I’ve been here. At first, it didn’t really have as much of an impact other than paying federal taxes. But now, it’s having more of an impact than ever because Donald Trump has just meddled so much between taking over the Kennedy Center — I was supposed to play a concert there as part of WorldPride and the orchestra that was supposed to play there, the International Pride Orchestra, was disinvited, so we ended up playing at Strathmore, and thanks to Strathmore for stepping up for us — and then putting National Guard in our city without the Mayor’s permission. And that’s the other thing, the Mayor doesn’t have the authority to call up the National Guard and if she did, January 6th would have never gotten to the point that it did, because she probably would have called the National Guard much sooner. So that’s another impact.

There’s no barriers to us being his battering ram, and we sure have. And the shutdown, and the National Guard, and the takeover of the Kennedy Center have had a really negative effect on our economy. Ticket sales at the Kennedy Center are way down, like forty-some, fifty percent. And restaurants are hurting, restaurants are closing or they’re sitting empty. People are afraid to show up to work because of ICE raids. It’s really affected us very deeply this time around, to the point where I would love to have the Mayor or somebody start a campaign, maybe, to hold our federal taxes in some kind of an escrow account until we become a state.

What does achieving statehood mean for you?

It would mean that we would have a say in the making of our laws. Right now we have no say. We would have a representative that we can call to say ‘stop this or stop that or push for this or push for that.’

What do you think needs to be done to get closer to achieving statehood?

First of all, having a Democrat [majority] in the House, the Senate, and the White House. Although, that hasn’t done us any good in the past — it didn’t seem to work. The support for statehood does seem to be gaining in Congress. Republicans I doubt would ever support it, so we would have to have at the very least, a deep majority in the House and Senate in order to do that.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

I do think there needs to be a campaign to better educate people around the country about [statehood]. We need to hit people in a more mainstream way. I think a lot of my friends are aware of it, because I’ve made them aware of it. And I ask them when I forward an email for them to take an action and share it with their friends. But still, somehow, the message is not getting out. I’m not really much of a marketing guru, [but] somehow it needs to get out to the mainstream. And if it is getting out, people just don’t care because it’s not impacting them…

…And having the National Guard on our streets is doing nothing. First of all, it’s costing $500 a day per soldier — about $1 million a day — for them to stand around Metro stations and just watch people go by, doing absolutely nothing. They say they’re freeing up the police to go to parts of the city where there is more crime — maybe that is the case, I don’t know for sure if it’s really doing any good, but it seems to be a big waste of our money. It gives me the kind of feeling as I had when I was a teenager when my mother would walk into my bedroom and invade my privacy — that’s what it feels like. I was a member of the military, so I feel for them too, having to do this duty that they probably don’t want to do any more than we want them here. Again, we have no control over that, and they’re going to be here indefinitely. I’ve heard anywhere from through the end of the year to next summer, and it’s a waste of our tax money.

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Trivia Answer: President Donald Trump

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Q: How many times has the U.S. House of Representatives passed D.C. statehood (Washington, DC Admission Act)?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

We Look to the Future of America

Celina Stewert, League of Women Voters chief executive officer, spoke to The Guardian, setting the course for the future:

“Our hope is not just to preserve democracy, but to evolve it – to make it more representative, more inclusive and, above all, more resilient. That requires modernizing our systems, protecting against mis- and disinformation and fostering a culture where participation is a shared responsibility. Not something other people do. Something we all do together. Democracy is not something we inherit fully formed. It is something every generation has had to build. This is our moment to build it.”

What to a D.C. Resident is the 4th of July?

The 700,000+ people living in D.C., disenfranchised for 225 years of America’s 250 years of history, will be celebrating in their own ways on this July 4th. Some are mourning the loss of the usual national community picnic atmosphere down on the Mall, while many more are gathering in their neighborhoods, trying to stay cool during this heat wave, finding ways to express their love for this country. Ice cream socials team up with picnic blankets in local parks, annual Capitol Hill and Palisades Parades are planned while others use the occasion to honor history even as they work towards a better future. Natalie Hopkinson gives us a cultural tour that brings us up close to significant places and moments in D.C.’s history.

They envision a time when the people of Washington, D.C. are able to join the Union, living in the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth, with full equal representation and the liberty to govern themselves like the rest of the 50 states.

National Guard Update

As of July 1st, 7:00 AM, the Joint Task Force–District of Columbia in charge of National Guard troop deployment in D.C. reported that there are 4,904 National Guard soldiers deployed to D.C. for the “summer surge.” Several governors have agreed to send troops solely for the purpose of helping with the 250th anniversary celebrations, but it is unclear when they will be departing.

State by State Breakdown:

Objections to the Use of Our Military on U.S. Soil

Even as the administration’s “summer surge” balloons to more than 4900 National Guard troops in D.C., State Attorneys General, 114 members of Congress, and local D.C. groups have all filed Amicus Briefs. These briefs have been filed to accompany the case No. 25-5418 filed by the District of Columbia which is now on appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Action Requested by Free DC

Free DC has been keeping close track of the numbers of National Guard troops, where they have been patrolling, and how they are acting as they move through our communities. Please help the members of the National Guard, posted here in D.C. in one of the worst heat waves on record, go home to their families in their own home states. This link provides a quick way to send your message to the 24 governors who have deployed their National Guard units to D.C.

Reminder: The Last Battlefront: Quest for the Vote in Washington, DC on PBS!

Check this link to find stations screening the film in July.

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Trivia Answer: Two (2020 and 2021)

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Q: Why is D.C. no longer a diamond — 10 miles square?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

The Last Battlefront: Quest for the Vote in Washington, D.C.

Nationwide Launch on PBS in July!

Check the Schedule for Screening in Your Area

Do you know how Washington, D.C. came to be our nation’s capital with no representation in Congress for the people who live there?

Watch the film on a PBS station near you!

During the month of July, 136 PBS stations will be screening this one-hour documentary on the fight for self-government in Washington, D.C. as told through the lives and voices of its citizens. Their stories lie hidden in the shadows of the White House, Capitol building, and our national monuments. These shadows obscure the realities of those who live, go to school, and work here. Today, they number over 700,000 people.

The film looks at Washington, D.C. as a symbolic landscape of national identity but also as the only capital of a major democracy in the world whose residents lack representation in Congress and true self-government. These are basic rights treasured by Americans in all the states. Not only are residents left out of the process of governing, but Congress has the right to involve itself and overrule residents in all matters of local laws, policies, and spending. And they do.

How could this have happened? We look for answers in four turning points in Washington, D.C.’s history from 1783 to today. This is a non-partisan film with conflicting points of view. It focuses on storytelling and offers significant historical background to redefine issues and allow for the resolution of a struggle that has haunted District residents since the nation’s earliest days.

We can also provide screenings at a time that works for your community group, social justice or civil rights organization, or class with a post-screening panel discussion on D.C.’s current status and how statehood would work. Contact LWVDC at statehood@lwvdc.org. For more information about D.C. Statehood, visit lwvdc.org/statehood.

The Summer Blockbuster Everyone’s Talking About Featured at a Watch Party (Saturday, July 11th — 7-9pm)

Join the Reeb Voting Rights Project and The DC League of Women Voters for a free watch party of The Last Battlefront, a one-hour documentary exploring the fight for self-government in Washington, D.C. through the stories and experiences of its residents. As questions of D.C. home rule and self-determination continue to make headlines, this film offers an opportunity to learn more about the history, stakes, and future of democracy in the District.

At All Souls Church Unitarian (1500 Harvard Street NW, Washington, D.C.), we will tune into WETA, our own Washington DC PBS station, which will be broadcasting the film on July 11th at 7pm. What we will have, that PBS can’t offer, is a discussion with special guests after the film and refreshments!

RSVP to attend here.

National Guard Still Patrolling in Greater Numbers

As National Guard numbers climb in D.C. toward the stated goal of 5000, the number of governors who have sent troops has now climbed to 24 (as of 6/24/26).

Free DC Requests Action

You can send a letter to 24 governors by clicking on this link: National Guard Out Now — Free DC

Ranked Choice Voting Worked in D.C.

While several candidates won in the first round of Ranked Choice Voting with their vote counts already over 50%, two races went through multiple rounds of the Ranked Choice Voting before a winner was announced. Winners needed to receive over 50% of votes in order to prevail. For full election results: DCBOE Primary and Special Election 2026 Election Results. To see a helpful visual on how the ranked choice tabulations were done, click on “RCV” under Results Category on the page. It is very informative.

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Trivia Answer: Congress voted in 1847 to return Virginia’s land back to Virginia and Virginia agreed to take it back.

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Q: In November 2016, what did D.C. voters support in a ballot referendum with 85.17% percent of the vote?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

Juneteenth in Washington, D.C.

Juneteenth was originally celebrated in Texas, when the Union army arrived in Galveston, TX on June 19th, 1865, and declared the people of Texas free, with absolute equality of rights between former enslavers and the enslaved. This was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which, because Texas was geographically isolated, was generally ignored or suppressed. (This was only about 20 years after the telegraph was invented.) The first celebration was held as Jubilee Day on June 19th, 1866. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. We checked in with The 51st to find out how artists are celebrating: What Juneteenth means to D.C. artists and cultural organizers

Juneteenth Celebrations: Harrison Park (June 18th) and ONE DC (June 19th)

LWVDC is celebrating with ONE DC at their Juneteenth community festival. Yesterday we were at Harrison Park for a family-friendly event. These community festivals feature live music, local artists and vendors, community outreach tables, food and drinks, and fun activities for kids and adults. It is a moment/day for us to be intentionally together and to celebrate. We are also hearing from different community organizers about the connection between Juneteenth and our current organizing campaigns.

National Guard Numbers in D.C. Growing

The goal for the number of National Guard troops continues to be 5,000 for the “summer surge.” As of the latest available figures, over 4,000 National Guard members from 19 states and 2 territories are deployed in Washington, D.C. as part of President Donald Trump’s “DC Safe and Beautiful” mission.

Members of the National Guard do not have the power to arrest people, but apparently are able to hold people and call the Metropolitan Police Dept. to come and arrest them, and there are reports that they are doing so.

Free DC Suggested Action

Send a letter today demanding 19 governors get their Guard soldiers out of DC.

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Trivia Answer: D.C. Statehood

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Q: What rallying cry used in the 1770s to build support for creating the United States is still a rallying cry for D.C. residents?

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America’s 250th Anniversary – What to Celebrate & How to Talk About It

Here in Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, you would think it would be brimming with excitement, pride, nostalgia as the years of history are reviewed. Instead, we feel under siege with the President threatening to take over our elected government if voters elect a certain candidate and with 1,500 more National Guard troops coming to bring the total to 5,000. In a new and concerning development, the National Guard seem to be taking on policing duties. And seem to view themselves as an occupying force – see photos of them signing the DC flag below. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton has raised concerns, including about the pictures that appear to show the “Guard personnel treating the D.C. flag as though it were the flag of a conquered territory.” D.C.’s flag should be treated with the same respect as any other state’s flag and the U.S. flag.

We are resilient though and can still celebrate –and use– the many ways we still have to talk about our nation’s history and the promises of liberty and justice that have yet to be fulfilled.

Living Room Conversations: D.C. Statehood

Living Room Conversations, an organization founded on the idea that structured, intimate conversations can empower everyday citizens to discuss important issues with others, will be hosting this virtual conversation on June 18th at 3:30pm EST using their D.C. Statehood conversation guide created in collaboration with LWVDC. This event is virtual and free to attend. You can download the full conversation guide in advance by clicking this link (note: you will need to create or login to a free LRC account to download it).

Please register to attend here.

The D.C. Summer of Freedom

When you click on this link you will find a whole range of gatherings, events, and opportunities to have meaningful conversations with lots of people who will be out and about in D.C., enjoying our parks, and our vibrant neighborhoods. We will be welcoming the many visitors from all over who will be visiting Washington, D.C. this summer. Please feel free to click on the links and find out more about all these happenings that represent our diverse and interesting communities.

Free DC Suggests Action

“The governors of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have all sent soldiers here to occupy the capital. Send a letter telling these governors to recall their Guard and get them out out of DC now.”

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Trivia Answer: Taxation without representation

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Now we get to use this improved election method and want to make sure all D.C. voters know how.

An Overview of RCV

Ranked Choice Voting will be used for the first time in D.C. in 2026. Follow these steps to successfully complete your ballot:

• Step 1: Vote for your favorite candidate 1st.

• Step 2: Rank your backup choices (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th). Only rank candidates you support!

• Step 3: Your vote stays with your 1st choice. If they lose (come in last place), then your vote moves to your next choice.

• This process repeats until one candidate wins over 50% of the vote.

• You are not required to rank every candidate, but try not to skip any rankings.

• You can still vote for just one candidate. Do not vote for a candidate more than once.

Top Questions About RCV Answered (English + Español)

How to Rank Your Ballot (In Pictures)

Make sure your vote counts! Use this handy guide developed by Rank the District to ensure your ballot is filled out properly.

VOTE411.org Voter Guide

If you haven’t already made your voting plan, make sure to do so! The League of Women Voters DC Guide to the upcoming election is now available online. Visit www.Vote411.org/LWVDC and click on “Find What’s on Your Ballot.” Enter your address, select English or Spanish, then read about candidates and their answers to questions posed by League members. Vote411.org allows voters to rank up to five candidates in each race, then save their choices to make voting quick and easy. The League provides the Vote411.org Voter Guide as a public service. We never edit candidates’ responses, nor do we endorse any candidate or party. Questions? Email Vote411@LWVDC.org

How to Vote

You can vote from now until June 16th! If you haven’t already done so, be sure to head to Vote411.org to make your voting plan. There, you will find your vote center or ballot drop box location, candidate info, and more.

Ballot drop boxes: open now!

Early voting period: June 8 - 14

Election Day: June 16

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Q: In the U.S., whose residents “pay more taxes than residents in 19 states and pay more per capita to the federal government than any state?”

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For the Record: ICE Detained Over 1000 People in D.C. Last Summer

As the “Summer Surge” of 2026 ramps up with requests for more National Guard soldiers so that there are 5000 National Guard members patrolling our streets, we need to remember what has already happened to members of our community – our neighbors.

D.C. Plans to Celebrate Flag Day as Usual

Flag Day for Washington, D.C. has been a moment to celebrate our communities, our patriotism and both the D.C. flag and the flag of the United States of America. This year, the 250th year of our nation’s history will be marked by the annual celebration described below. All around D.C. throughout our 130+ neighborhoods, there will be D.C. flags and U.S. flags displayed and some of the U.S. flags will have 51 stars.

Take Action: Protect the 700,000 People of D.C.

The American citizens who live in the 50 states are the ones who have the power to protect the limited Home Rule Congress has allowed and continues to undermine with 66 stand-alone bills and other legislative maneuvers. The people who live in the 50 states have Representatives and Senators who are the only ones who can admit the state of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth to the Union. Please let your Congressional delegations know how you feel about the way the people of D.C. are being treated.

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Trivia Answer: Residents of Washington, D.C.

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Q: What Act disenfranchised residents of areas that became D.C., stripping them of their ability to vote for Members of Congress of Maryland and Virginia (depending on where they live)?

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How Do You Feel About the Militarization of Washington, D.C.?

Please stop and think about this for a minute. A “Summer Surge” has been announced for Washington, D.C. The chair of the president’s “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Taskforce” has requested additional National Guard units, enough to total 5,000 for the summer. During the press conference, a spokesman declared this surge would “serve as an example to the entire country,” which should alarm everyone. These policy decisions have no relation to the actual safety of Washington, D.C. They are part of the continued efforts to normalize the authoritarian takeover of our democracy.

The “Summer Surge” plans include “high visibility patrols…drones, helicopters and tactical canines.” These tools are intended to intimidate people and they are often used on people who don’t seem to fit a particular profile — who have a darker skin color, speak with what sounds like a “foreign” accent, are struggling with poverty, or mental health issues, or homelessness.

Washington, D.C. has a population of some 700,000 people whose ethnic and racial mix make it a majority minority District, with no voting representation in Congress, subject to the whims of members of Congress and a president who wishes to make D.C. “an example to the entire country.”

We leave you with two questions:

1. Who do you think will be safer under the auspices of the DC Safer and Beautiful Taskforce?

2. Do you want a surge of National Guard troops in your home town, big or small, as proposed by the president’s Taskforce?

Take Action: Become a Champion Together for DC

As D.C.’s autonomy continues to be undermined, we invite you to become a Champion Together for DC.

Together for DC is a new national campaign to build a people-powered solidarity movement to defend D.C.’s autonomy and achieve statehood, securing full rights for the 700,000 people who call D.C. home.

To join fellow organizations and neighbors nationwide as a Champion Together for DC, we ask you to:

• Review and endorse our campaign’s shared platform (read the full platform here)

• Amplify your support through simple actions we will share in June and as needed in our campaign to protect our autonomy and gain statehood.

Signing on as a Champion Together for DC does not obligate you to take any further action if you choose not to. This is just an opportunity to signal your support for D.C.’s autonomy and statehood.

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Trivia Answer: Organic Act of 1801, passed on February 27, 1801

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Q: In 2021, who said the following: “It’s hard to argue with a straight face that people that fought and died in a half a dozen wars and pay federal income tax shouldn’t have federal representation...If they were voting Republican, they’d be there in a heartbeat.?”

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

It’s Truly Spring in Washington, D.C.!

House & Garden tours are taking place while momma birds dive bomb passersby to protect their babies just learning how to fly. Flowers are blooming, and the National Guard is still walking our streets fully armed.

“Summer Surge” Coming to D.C.

In another prime example of the ways that self-governance is hobbled for the people of D.C., the D.C. Council recently passed a bill mandating a youth curfew in some parts of the District. However, it will not go into effect until Congress allows it to become law, which means that it will not be enacted until the fall because of the lay-over period for bills passed by D.C. officials. The federal government is now planning a “summer surge” focused on curtailing youth crime in D.C. which means that there will be increased federal presence in our communities, increasing pressure on our young people, and increasing tension in our streets. Whether or not you agree with the tactics involved in establishing youth curfews in specific areas, the delays that D.C. must endure in attempting to govern ourselves creates problems that could easily be avoided if D.C. laws were made and carried out by officials elected by the people of D.C. without the interference of Congress.

New Bill Introduced Undermining our Limited Home Rule

Next Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will mark up Rep Scott Perry’s bill (H.R. 8801) that would ”prohibit a congestion toll in the District of Columbia.” The text is not yet available.

For the record, the D.C. Council studied the question after New York City instituted its congestion toll, but has not taken up the proposal. This is the 66th stand-alone bill introduced in this session of Congress. See the whole list here.

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Trivia Answer: Former Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA)

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Q: Which law included the following as one of its purposes: “to the greatest extent possible, consistent with the constitutional mandate, relieve Congress of the burden of legislating upon essentially local District matters?”

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Warrantless Arrests Challenged

From Washington DC Patch 5/8/26: “Immigration enforcement guidance for warrantless arrests falls short, federal judge says — A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled that current ICE guidance for warrantless civil immigration arrests in the District doesn’t meet probable cause standards and can’t be used. The case, brought by noncitizens and CASA in Washington, challenges how immigration sweeps were conducted and pushes for stricter protections before people are taken into custody.”

Statehood Stories: Highlighting Voices of D.C. Residents

While Washington, D.C. is known for its monuments and sightseeing, it is also home to 700,000 residents who currently have no representation in Congress. As Americans, we should all care about this issue - fairness & equality matter in a democracy! This week, we will be sharing a snippet of Carol Grigsby’s story, captured in February 2026. To read the full interview, please click the link here.

Name: Carol Grigsby

Occupation: Retired from USAID; Writer and Disability Advocate

Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee // Washington, D.C.

Could you talk about your own experience being disenfranchised, or in other words, what it has been like to lose the rights you had when you were living in one of the 50 states?

I moved here not that long after we got Home Rule. I was aware of that at the time as an important step for D.C., but I thought of it as sort of a way station — I believed that we were on our way to something better fairly soon. I probably didn’t fully appreciate the amount of struggle that had gone into achieving that, since I didn’t know that much about the history of D.C. before then. And, to be really honest, after graduating from SAIS I was working for the federal government, and I was very focused on work, I was traveling a lot, and didn’t give my disenfranchisement an immense amount of thought. I did know that every time I went to vote, I didn’t have as much say as I would have if I was living in one of the states. I even remember when we were buying our house, we were originally looking in the Maryland suburbs, in part because I knew we’d have better representation. But once we decided to live in D.C. instead, I just sort of got more focused on the job, I think. It became just a frustration in the background.

There were other things that started happening later in life that made me feel a lot more rooted here. One of those is that I have a son who has a disability, and we had to work to get him his supports — first, while he was in school, but then later, when he was going to get out of school and be an adult here, we had to think about how he’d get his long-term services. That was somewhat instrumental in my decision to retire when I did. I got very engaged in advocacy, not just for my son, but in broader advocacy on the disability front here in D.C. That meant I was working a lot more with other local advocates and with the D.C. government, which I hadn’t really been that involved with before, beyond paying taxes and getting the trash picked up. At this point I gained a much better appreciation of D.C., our local government, the structure, and all that we were up against. Ever since then, that consciousness has increased in my mind, about just how disadvantaged we are. I’ve focused more on current events and the history of D.C., and read a lot more — for example, Chocolate City, which is just a fabulous book, and really puts D.C.’s history and current situation into context.

What does achieving statehood mean for you?

It really means having the rest of the country recognize that we’re real Americans. Having them realize that there are 700,000 people who live here who don’t have anybody representing them with a vote in the Congress, and that we’re constantly being acted on by people who don’t view us as their constituents at all. It would mean that our country would reach a new level in terms of civil rights, because the history of D.C. is so tied up with slavery and racism, and there’s so much that happens now, in a much more veiled way, that is really about others thinking it’s a city of Black people and we don’t have to care. No one would admit to that, but it’s just a reality in D.C.’s history.

I’ve been writing a blog for a long time about local disability issues in D.C., but last year I started writing a weekly Substack called “DC Lives,” which is my contribution to trying to educate people outside the DMV about what it really means to live here, and what D.C. is really about in a day-to-day way. It’s my effort to raise people’s consciousness.

What do you think needs to be done to get closer to achieving statehood?

So many people have given that so much thought. Speaking personally, what I’ve decided I can do is to write this Substack and try to educate people back in my home state of Tennessee and elsewhere. Beyond that, I think there’s too much of a habit on the part of D.C. residents — though not all — to not want to get obnoxious about it with other people. You know, to kind of toss it off — ‘well we all know we don’t have representation.’ I think we need to be a lot louder and more determined about it. I want to be a lot more vocal about our lack of rights and have people not just think it’s an interesting footnote about U.S. politics. I even think there’s too much of a habit within the DMV, and even on the part of some D.C. residents, to engage in facile putdowns of the D.C. government or D.C. in general, and that has started to really bother me. I probably did it myself decades ago, but now I say to people ‘I don’t know why you say that, what do you mean by that?’ because I think we need to get folks to really think about what they’re saying.

Also, as I’ve read more about what came before Home Rule, I look at what Walter Fauntroy did, and others I’m sure who were working with him: they went to the home districts of people who were voting against D.C. rights — there was a particular one, it was Rep. McMillan of South Carolina, I think — and they went to his home district and started to stir people up, not just stir people up about D.C., but to stir up Black voters to get them to turn out and turn him out of office, and they succeeded. And he was a major blockage against D.C. Home Rule at the time. It takes a tremendous amount of organization, but I think that the more D.C. folks can get out there and get into the districts where our greatest opponents in Congress come from, I think that will, over time, help. I have to believe. One of the reasons I’m more interested in being active with the League than the more overtly partisan groups is that it’s important for people to not see D.C. Statehood as a partisan issue — it’s an American issue.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

We’re in a political cycle right now that I think makes the idea of progress kind of bleak. But, a cycle is a cycle, so it will come back around again. That was sort of my thinking in starting my Substack too — I’m trying to lay the groundwork for when the wheel turns and people are ready to think in terms of moving forward again. At that point, hopefully, folks will go ‘Oh wow, I’ve learned something, maybe it’s time to move on this.’

I’ve read a fair amount of Jill Lepore on the U.S. Constitution and she talks about the fact that Americans have become sort of unwilling to amend the Constitution. Now I’m not saying that it’s necessary to amend the Constitution to get D.C. Statehood, but I think what she talks about is a symptom — that we’re kind of stuck in this place where our country is just where it is, and even if we’re not exactly where we need to be, many people are satisfied enough not to do anything else, not to make any more major improvements. That wheel will turn, and when it does, I want D.C. Statehood to be very much on the map and in front of people as one of the things that has to change.

2500+ National Guard Still Patrolling Washington, D.C.

The National Guard troops deployed consist of forces from D.C. National Guard and over time have come from at least 11 states. According to D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, “Taxpayers are paying more than a million dollars a day to have them walk around.” With no end in sight to their deployment, National Guard troops still roam DC – NBC4 Washington

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Trivia Answer: District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act (S. 1435) (1973) (Created D.C.’s limited home rule)

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Q: In 1954, who said, “In the District of Columbia the time is long overdue for granting national suffrage to its citizens and also applying the principle of local self-government to the Nation’s Capital?”

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Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!

It is May Day in Washington, D.C., with all the various meanings that this particular day has:

• Mayday, mayday, mayday is the international radio-telephone distress signal used by people in a crisis, life-threatening situation. D.C. is still occupied by National Guard detailed to march through our streets, coming from 8 states per recent count.

• May Day – today – May 1, 2026 – a day for No Work, No School, No Shopping, a time to resist the ongoing authoritarian takeover of 132 named communities in Washington, D.C. where more than 700,000 people live.

• D.C. Statehood Day – 5/1 – a day to advocate for full rights for D.C. residents through admission of the 51st state.

More Congressional Interference in D.C.

• Rep. Julia Letlow introduced the No Rogue Jurors Act (H.R. 8485), which would prohibit providing federal funds to any organization, school or entity that encourages individuals to seek jury service in D.C. or federal courts with the intent to engage in jury nullification.

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Trivia Answer: President Dwight Eisenhower (R)

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Q: How much local D.C. money was Washington, D.C. prevented from spending through the Congressional Continuing Resolution for the budget in 2025?

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Harassment of D.C. Youth

Earlier this month, the D.C. Department of Recreation held an event for our young people. It was well attended and orderly. But then, as our young people dispersed, ready to go home, they met a mix of National Guard, federal law enforcement agencies, and Metropolitan Police Department personnel who would not let more than 25 young people at a time into the Metro station. These police officers were fully armed, ready for trouble, treating our young people as a danger to our community. Fortunately, someone filmed the scene. We show it here as evidence of the continuing tactics of intimidation and militarization we are experiencing in Washington, D.C.

April 22nd, 2026 — 56th Earth Day

As the 700,000 people who live in D.C. continue to have to sit on the sidelines when it comes to affecting national policies on a wide range of issues, we come to the 56th Earth Day. D.C. residents are concerned about our environment, installing solar panels, transitioning away from fossil fuels, planting trees — doing what can be done at the local level. This video is a heartfelt note about what a difference we could make for the planet if we were a state with a Representative and 2 Senators who can vote.

Appropriations Committee passes D.C. Budget Bill

The Appropriations bill will now need to be passed by the full House before it can proceed to the Senate. That vote has not yet been scheduled. For the record, the D.C. bill still carries the following provisions, most of which are often discussed as “riders”:

• Prohibits use of funds for abortion.

• Prohibits use of funds to commercialize recreational marijuana.

• Prohibits use of funds to carry out the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Amendment Act of 2014.

• Repeals the Death with Dignity Act of 2016 and prohibits enacting any law to permit any person to carry out any activity, or to reduce the penalties imposed with respect to any activity, to which subsection (a) of section 3 of the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 applies (taking into consideration subsection (b) of such section).

• Requires submission of a report on enforcement of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act.

• Prohibits use of funds to enforce rule relating to ‘‘Adoption of California Vehicle Emission Standards’’.

• Prohibits use of funds to enact or carry out any law which prohibits motorists from making right turns on red, including the Safer Streets Amendment Act of 2022.

• Prohibits use of funds to carry out title IX of the Fiscal Year 1997 Budget Support Act of 1996 (automated traffic enforcement).

• Repeals Section 5 of the Corrections Oversight Improvement Omnibus Amendment Act of 2022 (exemptions to Anti-Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation law).

• Prohibits use of funds to implement the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 or any activities related to enrolling or registering noncitizens into voter rolls for local elections.

• Declares that an individual who has a valid weapons carry permit from any state or territory may possess and carry a concealed handgun, magazine, and ammunition in the area governed by the District of Columbia and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

• Prohibits use of funds to carry out the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022.

• Repeals Sections 102(a)(3) and 102(c)(1)(B) of the Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act of 2018.

• Prohibits use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce any COVID–19 mask or vaccine mandate.

• Prohibits use of funds to implement the Insurance Regulation Amendment Act of 2024 (reproductive health care and gender-affirming care).

• Prohibits use of funds to implement or enforce provisions of the Consumer Protection Act against oil and gas companies for environmental claims.

• Prohibits use of funds to carry out title I or title II of the Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022 (shield law).

• Exempts D.C. from shutdowns in FY 28.

• Doesn’t automatically appropriate D.C.’s locally enacted FY 28 budget during an FY 28 CR.

• DCTAG: $20 million.

• Emergency Planning and Security Fund: $50 million.

• SOAR Act: $26.25 million for vouchers, $17.5 million for public charter schools and $8.75 million for traditional public schools.

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Trivia Answer: $1.1 billion

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Q: What do the two provisions (riders) that are “traditionally” in the D.C. appropriations bill restrict D.C. from doing?

Read to the end of the post for this week’s trivia answer!

April 15th – Tax Day for D.C. — Another Year of “Taxation without Representation”

In the 225th year of D.C.’s disenfranchisement, let’s remember the original rallying cry that set the 13 colonies on the path to creating a new nation governed by the people. D.C. residents still lack the full rights to voting representation in Congress and the liberty to govern ourselves. D.C. citizens are speaking out!

D.C. Emancipation Day — April 16, 2026

• D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton today introduced a resolution commemorating Emancipation Day, which honors the date in 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln freed 3,100 enslaved people in the District. Norton’s resolution includes a call for Congress to pass the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would grant us statehood. In a statement, she stressed the timing just one day after the deadline for paying federal income taxes. “D.C. residents were the first to be freed from slavery but are the last to enjoy full rights and freedoms as American citizens, paying more in overall federal taxes than 26 states while still being denied voting representation in Congress and fiscal autonomy….” Norton said.

• Washington, D.C. is celebrating Emancipation Day in many ways this week, including honoring one of our long-time leaders, Anise Jenkins, of the original Free DC movement. A DC250 Full Democracy luncheon was held on Friday April 17th, and Saturday, April 18th there is a DC250 Kids Ball, a free, high-energy event for children 12 and under, featuring music, dancing, creative activities, and kid-friendly treats, held at Planet Word (registration required).

• The community-wide Emancipation Day celebration, including the traditional parade and concert will be held on Sunday, April 19th at Freedom Plaza.

Anti-Home Rule Action on the Hill

• The Appropriations bill including D.C. funding has been passed by a subcommittee and will be considered next week by the Appropriations Committee. The bill contains multiple riders that mostly prevent D.C. from spending funds related to many stand-alone anti-Home Rule bills, among other measures that constrain our capacity to govern ourselves. This current version of the D.C. Appropriations bill will probably not survive the rest of the various negotiations involved in bringing an Appropriations bill to a vote, if there is one. Nevertheless, it is important to understand the attacks that D.C. needs to resist because we are not a state. It is also important to understand that the various stand-alone anti-Home Rule bills whose language is also included in the Appropriations bill are still live legislation that must be opposed.

• Representative Dan Crenshaw introduced a bill (H.R.8297) “to restore and protect the Second Amendment rights of residents and United States citizens who visit the District of Columbia by modernizing the District’s firearm laws, eliminating prior restraints on acquisition and possession, establishing concealed constitutional carry, prohibiting feature-based firearm bans, and facilitating lawful purchases through Federally licensed dealers in neighboring States, and for other purposes.” This is the 63rd stand-alone anti-Home Rule bill introduced in this Congress.

Taking Action

Members of Congress introducing these bills know that D.C. residents don’t like them, but they don’t need to answer to us. They need to hear from those of you who live in states that “taxation without representation” is still unfair, and that anti-Home Rule measures are anti-democratic.

Trivia Answer: banning marijuana sales and blocking funding of abortions

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