House Republicans boldly strip Washington DC of noncitizen voting rights and police accountability measures, asserting federal authority over local governance while ignoring a $1.1 billion budget crisis affecting the capital city.
Key Takeaways
- House Republicans successfully repealed DC’s law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections with a 266-148 vote, citing the need to protect citizen voting power.
- A second bill passed 235-178 that reverses DC’s police accountability measures, restoring collective bargaining rights for disciplinary matters and reinstating certain liability protections for officers.
- Congress has not addressed the $1.1 billion budget shortfall affecting DC’s operations, despite President Trump’s call to fix the issue “immediately.”
- A third bill is pending that would force DC to abandon sanctuary city protections and require cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- These actions highlight the ongoing tension between federal oversight and DC’s limited self-governance under the Home Rule Act of 1973.
Citizen-Only Voting Rights Restored
House Republicans scored a major victory for election integrity by passing legislation that overturns Washington DC’s controversial law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. The measure, which passed with a decisive 266-148 vote, repeals the 2022 Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act that had granted voting privileges to noncitizens residing in the district for at least 30 days. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. August Pfluger, championed the legislation as essential to protecting American citizens’ voting power from being diluted by foreign influence.
“Free and fair elections are a prerequisite for a healthy republic. The radical DC Council’s decision to allow noncitizens—including illegal aliens and foreign agents—to vote in local elections dilutes the voting power of the citizen voter,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas).
Police Protections Reinstated
In a companion measure addressing public safety concerns, the House also passed the “Protecting Our Nation’s Capital Emergency Act” with a 235-178 vote. This legislation reverses DC’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which had removed key liability protections for law enforcement officers. The bill, introduced by Rep. Andrew Garbarino, restores police officers’ rights to negotiate disciplinary matters through collective bargaining and reestablishes statute of limitations for claims against officers, measures strongly supported by the DC Police Union.
“The Metropolitan Police Department is facing a public safety crisis brought on by reckless policies that have stripped officers of basic protections and left the force dangerously understaffed. This legislation helps right that wrong by giving MPD the tools and support they need to recruit, retain, and protect. Congress has a duty to ensure our nation’s capital is safe,” said Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY).
Budget Crisis Ignored
While House Republicans have moved swiftly to address voting rights and policing policies in DC, they have conspicuously failed to address the district’s crippling $1.1 billion budget shortfall. This financial crisis stems from a stopgap spending bill passed in March that inadvertently slashed DC’s budget. Despite President Trump’s directive to resolve the issue “immediately,” Republican leadership has not prioritized fixing the budget problem, leading to hiring freezes, overtime restrictions, and the looming threat of furloughs for district employees.
“Nobody’s talking about it anymore,” admitted Representative Andy Harris (R-Maryland), highlighting the lack of urgency among lawmakers to address the financial crisis.
Home Rule Under Threat
These congressional actions have reignited the debate over DC’s limited autonomy under the Home Rule Act of 1973. While the law allows DC to elect its own mayor and council, Congress retains ultimate authority over the district’s legislation and judicial appointments. DC’s non-voting delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, has strongly criticized Republicans’ interventions in local affairs, particularly their focus on overturning local laws while ignoring the budget crisis. Some Republican lawmakers have even introduced legislation that would eliminate DC’s self-governance entirely.
“This bill was introduced three days after House Republicans passed a continuing resolution that cut D.C.’s local budget by one billion dollars. That act of fiscal sabotage, which did not save the federal government any money, has led to a freeze on overtime, hiring and pay raises, and furloughs or layoffs may be next,” said Norton, highlighting the adverse impacts of congressional interference.
Additional Immigration Enforcement Pending
A third bill awaiting consideration would further restrict DC’s autonomy by dismantling its sanctuary city protections. The legislation, HR 2056, would mandate that district officials cooperate with federal immigration authorities, including sharing information about individuals’ immigration status. Interestingly, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has already proposed overturning some sanctuary protections in her 2026 budget proposal, possibly in an attempt to preempt congressional action or in recognition of changing public sentiment on immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
“We’ve got a lot on our plate,” explained Speaker Mike Johnson, suggesting that the budget fix for DC is not a priority compared to other Republican legislative goals.
