CCAN Action Fund applauds the Senate’s efforts to restore D.C’s ability to collect local taxes, averting devastating cuts to schools, transit, and emergency response, but warns of ongoing funding threats and executive overreach

Washington, D.C. – In a significant victory for the District of Columbia, Senators Chris Van Hollen (MD-D), Angela Alsobrooks (MD-D), Mark Warner (VA-D), Tim Kaine (VA-D), and Susan Collins (ME-R) led the U.S. Senate to unanimously save D.C.’s budget by restoring the city’s ability to control local taxes, which had been unjustly stripped away in a partisan Continuing Resolution (CR) passed by the House. This tax authority, which is crucial for funding over $1 billion in essential local services such as schools, transportation, and first responders, had been threatened by the CR. The loss of this authority would have caused devastating budget shortfalls for the District. 

D.C. residents faced this threat as a result of Speaker Mike Johnson and House leadership rushing an unprecedented and harmful full-year continuing resolution (CR) to the President’s desk without conversations with the minority party. Then they skipped town before ensuring the government shutdown was averted. CCAN Action Fund applauds these senators for their quick and decisive action to restore DC’s local tax authority but warns that the larger issues with the Continuing Resolution remain unresolved.

Thousands of communities will lose over $15 billion in funding for Congressionally appropriated projects sponsored by their elected officials, including projects funded by $293 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It will also cut funding to a variety of critical environmental and climate initiatives, including $30 million from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to help farmers have more resilient farms, $1.4 billion from the Army Corps of Engineers’ disaster mitigation construction projects, and half of the total government funding to conserve the Rio Grande and Colorado River.

Perhaps most concerning, the bill strips away hundreds of Congressional directives that guide how federal funds should be spent. Without these directives or strong language, the Trump Administration could use federal funds as a slush fund to further implement its cruel policy agenda, potentially diverting money meant for critical agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund harmful policies, including mass deportations. This undermines Congress’ constitutional obligation to oversee federal spending and the executive branch and could lead to severe long-term consequences for vulnerable communities. 

Statement from CCAN Action Fund Federal Director, Quentin Scott: 

“For those of us who live in the DMV region, we are relieved that the Senate unanimously agreed to fix the funding threat to DC’s local budget. However, this fix only addresses one part of a much larger issue. The Continuing Resolution signed into law contains dangerous provisions that will allow the Trump Administration to bypass Congress and implement policies that harm our communities, workers, and the environment. I urge the House to return to D.C. immediately to pass the Senate fix so this mistake can be corrected urgently.

For the last 56 days, the Speaker of the House and Senate President have watched the Trump Administration implement a policy agenda that ignores Congress’ authority, eroding the budget process and effectively triggering partial government shutdowns weeks ago. The Continuing Resolution on the surface keeps the government open, it also strengthens the Administration’s ability to divert money, wrongfully terminate federal workers, and ultimately shut down government agencies that do not benefit corporate oligarchs.”

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement toward clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.