DC leaders push for return of $1.1B amid funding battle

Leaders of Washington, D.C. on Thursday pushed Congress to return more than $1 billion in city-collected funds that were sidelined from being released.

“It is ironic that the same people who cut $1.1 billion out of your budget four months later is saying we're going to take over the city because you're not taking care of law enforcement,” Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) said during a House Oversight Committee hearing reviewing President Trump’s federalization of the city’s police force.

“So now we have armed military on the streets here in DC because they cut your budget so you can't hire more police and also to recruit more police officers.”

Congress previously passed a funding bill that would force D.C. to revert to its 2024 funding levels – effectively cutting them off from tapping $1.1 billion already in its coffers.

“It was especially problematic because it came mid-year. To cut a billion dollars with 12 months is bad enough, but to cut it with six months? It's almost impossible,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said.

City leaders said $83 million was set to go to police.

“We think we can safely hire up to 300 officers per year. We know that we can add to our recruitment bonuses. We know that we can invest in the types of things that young officers want, like take home patrol cars, like updated training facilities, and improve district headquarters,” Bowser said.

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), while questioning Bowser, suggested some in the GOP might be reticent to release the funds if the full $1.1 billion was not directed to law enforcement.

“I just need to know, yes or no, will you because you're making a big deal about wanting that money for law enforcement – would you use it for law enforcement?” Foxx asked.

“We want the money because it was approved by this Congress as our money,” Bowser responded. “We want it for our city.”

Later, Chair James Comer (R-Ky.), who has worked closely with Bowser in organizing the return of the Washington Commanders to the district, said he backed the funding.

“That $1 billion is restored in the continuing resolution that we're going to vote on tomorrow,” he said.

“Im gonna vote for that. I’ve been very vocal about trying to get that included,” Comer added, pressuring Democrats to support the full package.

Lynch would not say whether he would back the measure, but noted that the measure was previously excluded from other funding bills.

“Let's not talk about what we're going to do. Let's talk about what we've done,” he said.