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The Republican-led House is moving swiftly to roll back key Washington, D.C. laws on immigration, voting, and policing, even as it continues to delay action on a $1.1 billion budget shortfall that has left the capital city in financial limbo.
On Tuesday, House Republicans passed two bills targeting local D.C. policies. The first repeals a 2022 law that allows noncitizens to vote in local elections, and the second reinstates collective bargaining rights and expands legal protections for D.C. police officers under disciplinary review.
A third bill, expected to pass Thursday, would force D.C. officials to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, including detaining undocumented immigrants at the request of ICE or the Department of Homeland Security — even without a judicial warrant. Under current law, D.C. operates as a “sanctuary city”, limiting such cooperation.
GOP Push Sparks Clash Over “Home Rule”
The package of legislation represents the latest Republican attempt to reassert federal control over the Democratic-run District, reigniting a longstanding partisan battle over D.C. home rule — the system under which local officials govern, but Congress retains ultimate oversight.
“D.C.’s City Council made radical decisions under the Biden-Harris administration,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), who sponsored the noncitizen voting repeal. “I’m proud the House is acting to overturn these reckless measures.”
Democrats and D.C. officials, meanwhile, blasted the bills as federal overreach, particularly given that Republicans have failed to act on restoring $1.1 billion in local funds that were cut in a March spending bill.
“It’s absolutely irresponsible, unfair and beneath the credibility of leadership,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), a longtime advocate for D.C. autonomy. “It’s not our money — it’s D.C.’s money.”
D.C. Budget Fix Still in Limbo
While the Senate unanimously approved a bill to restore D.C.’s fiscal autonomy in March — a move also endorsed by President Trump — the House has yet to hold a vote. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) claimed in April the House would act “as quickly as possible,” but no vote has been scheduled.
“Mayor Bowser continues to oppose all congressional interference,” her office said in a statement, urging Congress to pass the District of Columbia Local Funds Act.
“If Congress wants to be helpful, they should fix the damage they caused to D.C.’s FY25 budget.”
Immigration Flashpoint: From D.C. to Los Angeles
The Republican focus on immigration comes as nationwide protests escalate over President Trump’s mass deportation campaign, particularly in Los Angeles, where demonstrations have blocked freeways and set vehicles on fire.
“If D.C. wants illegals to vote, we’ve made it clear that people here illegally should not vote in any elections,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.).
“You could just see what’s going on in L.A. to prove the point.”
Scalise and other GOP leaders argue the D.C. bills underscore their broader push to crack down on unauthorized immigration, claiming that local sanctuary policies undermine national security. Democrats, however, say Republicans are using D.C. as a political pawn, prioritizing ideological messaging over fiscal responsibility.
“It’s especially egregious,” said Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), “to override local laws while still refusing to fix the billion-dollar hole they created.”
Outlook: Partisan Tensions Mount
The D.C. voting and policing bills passed largely along party lines, and they are emblematic of the GOP’s broader 2025 agenda: one focused on asserting federal dominance over liberal jurisdictions and using immigration as a wedge issue.
As Speaker Johnson juggles an aggressive legislative push — including President Trump’s sweeping budget reconciliation package — the fate of D.C.’s financial fix remains uncertain, even as Washington residents brace for further congressional intervention.
Democrats have renewed calls for D.C. statehood to prevent similar interference in the future, while Republicans say oversight of the federal district is their constitutional duty.
Whether the House will move on the funding bill before the July 4 deadline remains to be seen — but pressure from D.C. leaders, Senate Republicans, and Trump himself is mounting.
