WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Hundreds of students, parents and advocates held “recess” as the Senate Hart Building on Thursday, urging senators to vote against a spending bill that would significantly impact the District’s local budget.
“We have people out right now on every floor of every Senate office building talking to every single senator making sure they know the cuts they are considering would be devastating for D.C. communities,” said Alex Dodds, co-founder of Free DC.
The spending plan, which was already approved by the House, is a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government open for the next six months at 2024 spending levels.
Unlike in previous continuing resolutions, however, this CR treats the District as a federal agency, forcing the city to also spend at 2024 levels, despite already operating under its Congressionally-approved 2025 budget.
Should the CR be passed by the Senate, D.C. would need to make an immediate $1 billion cut to its local budget, which is funded by local tax dollars, not federal dollars.
“[The CR] would not save the federal government any money,” said Dodds.
Cuts would span across all District agencies, including public safety and education.
DMV senators have expressed opposition to the CR, including Virginia Senator Mark Warner and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen.
Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks also filed an amendment Wednesday evening that would allow D.C. to continue operating as is. It’s unclear when that will be discussed.
“The idea that halfway through the school year they have to fire all of the teachers, it’s just abhorrent. Why would anyone let that happen?” said Lindsey Jones-Renaud, who was at the Hart Building for the rally.
Jones-Renaud has two children in school, one in a D.C. public school and another in a D.C. charter school.
“What worries me is the first group that would be cut would probably be special education teachers. I have two kids who are on an IEP,” she said. “Kids in D.C. are still struggling to catch up after the pandemic. We need extra resources in our schools, not to be taken away.”
Kids colored pictures and signs expressing love for their teachers and schools. They carried those signs to various office buildings on Thursday.
“I love how there are so many competitions like Battle of the Books, that’s fun. And I was recently in a math bowl,” said Magnolia, a fifth grader at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary School.
She’s worried about what would happen if the spending bill is passed.
“It’s going to cut our education. If you cut us off from when we’re 3 through 12, you’re hurting the world,” she said. “If you cut us off, you’re cutting off our future.”
It’s unclear when the Senate will vote on the CR, but Congress has until midnight Friday to pass a spending plan and prevent a government shutdown.
