Minding the Grocery Gap in the District of Columbia – A 2025 Update, the latest report from our friends at @dchunger.bsky.social, highlights disparities that continue to exacerbate food insecurity, health inequities, & economic instability for residents. 🔗: www.dchunger.org/wp-content/u...

Last night, the House passed two bills that will unravel years of criminal justice reform in DC. This unprecedented act of federal interference is a threat to the District's right to self-governance. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

The House is voting today on two bills that will put hard-fought reforms to DC’s justice system in the crosshairs. But what happens in DC doesn’t stay here. When it’s DC today, it’s always America tomorrow. We can stop it right here, right now. #FreeDC

Cash bail penalizes residents with low incomes, no matter the ultimate result of a trial, who are unable to pay for bail. And Black DC residents have lower incomes and higher poverty rates than other races due to historic and systemic racism. Learn more: https://loom.ly/vdXS7Dc

We stand united against all 13 anti–DC Home Rule bills in Congress. DC is home to more than 700,000 residents who pay taxes, run businesses, and serve in the military. Like all Americans, we deserve the right to set our own local laws. Congress should reject this unprecedented federal overreach.

It's not a coincidence that every map of issues facing DC looks the same; it's structural racism. https://loom.ly/WPmTDrw

A Business Activity Tax is a simple reform that would make our tax system more equitable by ensuring that businesses operating within DC pay their fair share. We estimate that a 2% BAT rate could generate approximately $500 million a year. https://loom.ly/4ZBYy94

With Republicans in Congress pursuing trillions in tax cuts, DC’s wealthiest residents can afford to pay more in local taxes to help preserve funding for DC’s critical human needs programs as the District heads into a recession. https://loom.ly/JLcWbFE

#DCstatehood is a racial justice issue

Federal efforts to bring back cash bail in DC would harm Black residents and reverse decades of progress. @dcfpi.bsky.social explains why fair, risk-based pretrial systems keep communities safe and equitable. www.dcfpi.org/all/federal-...

The DC Council voted Tuesday to unlink portions of the local tax code from the federal one, a move that prevents the District from losing nearly $700 million over a 5-year period. This is a big win for tax justice in the District! https://loom.ly/zpoq3Mc

Thank you @cmzparker5.bsky.social for championing a DC child tax credit! Both the EITC and CTC reduce child poverty, improve the life trajectories of children, and boost inclusive economic growth.

Today, DC took a huge step toward combating poverty across the District.   We just passed an amendment that will deliver real cash relief to working families through the EITC and Child Tax Credit — two of our most powerful tools to lift families out of poverty.

In addition to a vote on an emergency bill to reject federal tax cuts that would cost DC $658 million in local funds, DC Council is voting today on Councilmember Parker's amendment to use funds to restore a DC Child Tax Credit.

Several of the wasteful and poorly targeted tax cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be replicated in the local tax code unless the DC Council approves this emergency bill, which would protect $658 billion in local funds that can be used to support residents in need.

DC government is using local funds to cover the gap from the federal shutdown and Administration’s refusal to address this emergency and leave working families out. We will ensure our residents on SNAP and WIC are getting the food and support they need. It’s the right call to make.

Help is on the way for families who rely on SNAP/WIC benefits to help feed their families: the DC Government will use $30 million in contingency funds to ensure benefits are paid in November despite the federal government shutdown.

Live now! brianneknadeau.com/live/

NEW: We just filed a lawsuit alongside 25 states to restore SNAP food assistance during the federal shutdown. 141,000 DC residents rely on SNAP to afford their meals — including 47,000 children and 24,000 seniors. We will do everything in our power to prevent DC families from going hungry.

📣 ACTION ALERT DC lawmakers must act to protect $658 million in local funds that could be used for housing, health care, & support for residents. Send an email: the DC Council should amend DC’s tax code to prevent costly federal tax cuts from draining our budget. https://loom.ly/smq56N0

Nearly 140,000 DC residents will be cut off from food assistance at the end of the month unless the Trump Administration releases contingency funds for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A disruption of food benefits on this scale would be unprecedented.

"In the two years since the state started charging a 4% surtax on incomes over $1 million, the effort has created a $5.7 billion windfall, with the surplus being used to fund bridge repairs, bolster literacy programs and address the transportation system’s budget deficit." Taxing the rich works!

Residents have been asking for a public forum to share their concerns about incidents they’ve witnessed that involve DC gov coordination with fed entities that may violate D.C. human rights laws. My committee will provide that opportunity next week. brianneknadeau.com/human-rights...

Nearly 140,000 DC residents will be cut off from food assistance at the end of the month unless the Trump administration releases contingency funds amid the government shutdown.

“Taking no action is actually a decision on the Council’s part” said Tazra Mitchell, Chief Policy and Strategy Officer at the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute https://loom.ly/MMG0FXQ

As local and federal government attacks on immigrants escalate, DC should not overlook the many ways these residents contribute to the communities they live in and the local economy, including through their tax contributions toward DC’s shared resources. https://loom.ly/UzYRGnY

"In fiscal year 2024, half of all evictions occurred in majority-Black Wards 7 and 8, according to city data." Housing 👏 is 👏 a 👏 racial 👏 justice 👏 issue https://loom.ly/mGU6ev4

Erica Williams, the executive director of the DC Fiscal Policy Institute, called the bill “an extreme act of federal interference in local affairs.” www.msn.com/en-us/news/o...

More than 150 organizations sent a letter to Congress urging them to protect DC’s autonomy by rejecting any federal bills that undermine its democratic institutions or overturn laws passed by DC voters or representatives. Learn more: https://loom.ly/u22Krfc

DC lawmakers must act quickly to prevent $658 million in new revenue losses resulting from federal tax cuts. Looking to understand what is going on with our local economy? Our staff analyzed the latest revenue forecast from DC’s Chief Financial Officer. https://loom.ly/K7dvw9k

DC CFO’s revenue report underscores impact of slashed federal government on DC–nearly 11k jobs lost this year, including 8,700 federal jobs.

And, of course, now there's a shutdown, meaning we're likely to see officials protect more of the revenue growth and reserves due to the uncertainty. More to come!

We’ve seen the CFO reject such lists in the past, even when there was revenue growth due to other budgetary needs. The report didn’t signal whether he’d allow the budgeted items to go into law.

A big question is whether the CFO will approve the contingency list? We’re seeing a significant upswing in revenue (again!) due to his tendency to publish overly cautious forecasts. (Hence the need for a contingency list..)

First, we’d need to know how much overspending DC did in FY 2025 and how much is needed to top off reserves--and perhaps other factors. DC officials haven’t published those figures, making it difficult to determine carryover levels and what's possible.

There’s also the $400 million that Congress prohibited us from spending that should carry over into FY 2026.

Again, DC isn’t facing a budget shortfall, but big questions remain. How much of the revenue bump can be used for new spending, such as the contingency budget list that the DC Council approved in July, for things like early education and the Alliance?

The CFO reiterated that DC is still on track for a recession---starting in FY 2026, or today. The outlook isn’t projected to improve until next Oct, w/an eventual full recovery thereafter. He cautions significant uncertainty due to federal decisions.

It is an urgent imperative for DC to decouple from the federal tax changes. Look at how much we'll lose absent further action--with 66% of the tax cuts flowing to businesses that are doing well.

Overall, revenue grew in nearly all major categories except property taxes in FY25 vs FY24. Looking ahead, DC will have less revenue in FY26 than in FY25, but revenue will grow slowly each year thereafter. We need every dollar available to shore up DC’s budget.

The economy is benefitting the elite the most: corporate profits & non-wage income like capital gains are the biggest drivers of the revenue bump. Yet, the Mayor's statement doubles down on a disproven “growth” agenda w/no mention of struggling residents.

Failing to decouple from these tax cuts that primarily benefit the elite (see the chart) ASAP, will put much-needed local revenues at risk, as DC faces growing budget pressures and continues to suffer from extreme federal decisions that are driving down local revenues.

The forecast offers good news: DC isn't facing a budget deficit, as revenue is ticking up compared to June. The report also signals a new urgency--DC must act quickly to pass tax changes to save $658M due to reckless federal tax cuts that will flow into DC's tax code automatically.

The President recently issued an executive order aimed at coercing DC into ending its cashless bail policy, a change that would disproportionately harm Black and brown residents who are both over-policed and less able to afford cash bail due to systemic racism. Learn more: https://loom.ly/vdXS7Dc

Federal interference isn’t slowing down—and neither can we. 💬 “DCFPI has delivered real, lasting change that touches every corner of the District. But that progress is under attack. ” – Maria Gomez Stand with us. Defend the place we call home. Get more info: https://loom.ly/xtt7nNo

"And given proposed additional cuts in the future, the DC Fiscal Policy Institute predicts it’s likely more Washington residents and others from around the region who work in Washington will lose their federal jobs over the coming months and years." https://loom.ly/32SXFHE

For everyone who wants to know what they can do, here's a great opportunity.

Federal interference threatens our democracy—DCFPI is fighting back for DC families. Join us through the Advocacy Xccelerator Fund to power our defense. Learn more and take action here: http://bit.ly/3IdxNou #DCStrong #CommunityPower

Catch DCFPI's Director of Economic Policy, Shira Markoff, speaking on The State of the DMV’s Economic Justice Movement on Thursday, the 25th! More information and registration at: https://loom.ly/iBDNzwQ

There is still time! Join us TODAY for Federal Threats Watch: Deportation and Disruption in the DMV 📅 Today, September 18, 2025 🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET 💻 Location: Virtual (Zoom) Register now: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...