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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the possibility of a federal government shutdown on Friday night, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reminded District of Columbia residents that a provision she got included in the fiscal year (FY) 2022 District of Columbia Appropriations bill exempts the D.C. government from a federal government shutdown in FY 2023. 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 Friday night,” Norton said. “Congress could learn something about fiscal responsibility by taking a look at D.C., which has both a balanced budget and a surplus.”

If Congress does not pass the regular FY 2023 appropriations bills or another continuing resolution by Friday night, the federal government will shut down. However, the D.C. government will not shut down because Norton got a provision included in the FY 2022 D.C. Appropriations bill that allows D.C. to remain open and spend under the D.C. Council-passed FY 2023 local budget for the duration of a federal government shutdown in FY 2023.  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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