Blue states have a lot more power than DC, but we can still learn from their examples and be ready to push back.

Our local government has full discretion in where to invest our tax money and who provides services to our government. Let’s demand that they be socially-conscious with our tax funds: support local businesses, support black businesses, divest from holdings that support the current administration and values opposed to DC Citizens.

For every piece of legislation that is introduced in Congress, the DC Council needs to propose local laws that seek to protect DC Citizens from the change. This helps educate the public on how they would be affected and forces Congress to constantly be responding to what we are doing if they want to affect us. For instance, in response to the BOWSER Act that overturns Home Rule, the DC Council should propose legislation that recognizes the importance of Home Rule to allowing DC Citizens to have some right to self-determination; highlight the importance of representation in government as the basis of a free democracy; and reaffirm a commitment to local government being representative and participatory across the City.

Other examples of legislative action may include:

• Recognition of pregnant women as a “special needs” category, thus allowing them extra benefits under medical coverage that are being stripped through the defunding of Planned Parenthood.
• A joint letter to DC insurance providers demanding that they keep insulin costs at the cap under the Biden administration at $35/month.
• Maintain pro-worker standards for safety and leave.

While Congress can have the ultimate say in the end, let’s not make it easy for them. Let’s keep them busy, let’s bring attention to what they are doing on multiple fronts, let’s educate DC Citizens about what’s at risk and slow down any harms.

DC also has a lot of power to create internal policy to accomplish our goals and side-step outside interference. The mayor has full authority to (quietly)

• Set up public restrooms that protect vulnerable populations from being arrested for public urination.
• Create an extra layer of bureaucracy and hearings for determining DCPS curriculum to slow down any congressionally-mandated changes.
• Hire a police chief that is sensitive to our community and will willingly follow high standards of police accountability and professionalism.
• Strengthen requirements for environmentally-responsible policies for new development (instead of suspending them as Mayor Bowser did in May, 2025.)
• Layer in bureaucracy that requires additional inspections and requirements for gun registration. Require a control board to effectuate additional change.
• Fund research on the local level to track gun violence, IDEA service delivery, food aid, restorative justice programs, etc…
• Empower DC’s local health department to publish guidance on fluoride, vaccines, maternal health, and traditional resources that are being dismantled.

What are some of the tactics being used in Blue States?

Maryland conducted a study addressing their incredibly high rate of black incarceration and found systemic changes could help protect against disparate outcomes. They will institute policies to lower the rate of non-safety-traffic stops; require police, prosecutors, and courts to share data at every point along the way of the criminal justice system; grant parole of infirm prisoners; allow additional criteria to be considered to reduce sentences. Most of these are areas that DC could address through internal mayoral policies.

There is nothing stopping DC Citizens from creating referendums to present to the City or asking for the Mayor and Council to sign on to pledges. This also accomplishes informing people about what could happen to us and that we need to strengthen our resolve to fight against it.

Have ideas for what DC government could do to proactively ward against Congressional interference? Comment Below!!!