Norton Provision Will Keep D.C. Government Open if Federal Government Shuts Down

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the possibility of a federal government shutdown beginning Sunday morning, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reminded District of Columbia residents that a provision she got included in the fiscal year (FY) 2023 District of Columbia Appropriations bill exempts the D.C. government from a federal government shutdown in FY 2024. Norton has gotten a provision exempting the D.C. government from federal government shutdowns each year since FY 2015. 

“The D.C. shutdown exemption, which I have gotten included in the D.C. Appropriations bill since 2014, will prevent the D.C. government from shutting down if the federal government shuts down on Sunday morning,” Norton said.

If Congress does not pass the regular FY 2024 appropriations bills or a continuing resolution by Sunday morning, the federal government will shut down. However, the D.C. government will not shut down because Norton got a provision included in the FY 2023 D.C. Appropriations bill that allows D.C. to remain open and spend under the D.C. Council-passed FY 2024 local budget for the duration of a federal government shutdown in FY 2024.  Before Norton first got the shutdown exemption, the District government had to prepare shutdown contingency plans every time there was the threat of a federal government shutdown and would shut down if the federal government shut down. Consistent shutdown threats harmed D.C.’s credit rating. Credit rating agencies have favorably cited Norton’s shutdown exemption provision.

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