After House Passage of CR with Devastating Fiscal Consequences for D.C., Norton Vows to Continue Working to Prevent Senate Passage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through September that will result in projected cuts of $1 billion for D.C., Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she was disappointed and outraged but vowed to continue working with her colleagues to defeat the resolution in the Senate.

The House-passed CR omitted a longstanding provision that would allow D.C. to continue spending under its local fiscal year 2025 budget, and instead would force the District to revert to spending at fiscal year 2024 levels for the remainder of the year. If enacted, the CR would result in projected cuts of approximately $1 billion, which would force dramatic reductions in essential services the city provides, including D.C. Police, EMS, and schools.

“This CR is a radical departure from decades of congressional practice that would have devastating consequences for the District,” Norton said. “It amounts to nothing less than an act of fiscal sabotage against D.C., and is an abuse of power over a disenfranchised jurisdiction—the consequences be damned.

“Republicans have acknowledged this CR intentionally excludes the longstanding anomaly that would allow D.C. to operate under the FY 2025 local budget enacted by D.C. for the duration of this CR. It was not a drafting error, and they had time to correct it before bringing the bill to the floor for a vote. 

“Let’s be clear. This cut to D.C.’s local budget would not save the federal government any money, because D.C.’s local budget consists entirely of locally raised revenue, such as taxes and fees. While I am disappointed and outraged that the House passed a bill that amounts to nothing less than fiscal sabotage of the District, I will use every tool at my disposal to prevent Senate passage.

“Congress needs to keep its hands off D.C..”

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