By: Miriam Edelman
The future looks bleak for Washington, D.C. As a result of the 2024 elections, Republicans recaptured the White House and Senate while maintaining control of the House of Representatives. During the next Congress, the governing Republican trifecta most likely will conduct even more major interference in local D.C. issues.
During the current Congress with Republicans controlling just the House, Congress has meddled extensively in local D.C. issues, even attacking a local D.C. regulation (as was described in DCNOW’s blog piece, entitled “Congress Again Tries to Overrule a D.C. Regulation and End D.C. Home Rule”). For the first time in decades, the federal government prevented a D.C. government-passed bill from becoming law.
Things very well could be even worse for D.C., starting next year. Without Democrats providing guardrails, the federal government could block more D.C.-government passed legislation from being law. It could also conceivably end D.C.’s limited home rule, eliminating D.C.’s elected local government, as Members of Congress have already been proposing. However, it is unclear whether D.C.’s home rule is actually in danger. Republicans tried to end the Affordable Care Act dozens of times but failed even after they gained control of the Presidency and both Congressional chambers after the 2016 elections.
Already, outgoing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said the following in his post-2024 elections press conference: “I think one of the most gratifying results of the Senate becoming Republican, the filibuster will stand. There won't be any new states admitted that give a partisan advantage to the other side.” Most likely, he referred to the District of Columbia, given the current movement for D.C. statehood. Thus, it is fitting to mention that in the past, Republicans have supported D.C. autonomy, not necessarily D.C. statehood, as was described in DCNOW’s blog post, entitled “Blast from the Past: Republicans Supported Washington, D.C., Autonomy.”
Even if there are many attacks, let’s be positive. All anti-D.C. actions have and will make statehood for D.C. even more important.
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