Many D.C. leaders and residents are rightfully suspect of the Trump administration given the impact of the Department of Government Efficiency and the continuing resolution fiasco in Congress that required D.C. to cut its fiscal 2025 budget.
At the same time, D.C. is facing some immense challenges never seen before. Long the dependable employer and anchor to the local economy, the federal government’s workforce is shrinking, putting a severe strain on D.C.’s tax base. More than 13,000 high-earning households have left the city over the last two years. The city faces a $1 billion revenue shortfall over the next three years, primarily due to severely reduced commercial real estate tax receipts. Smaller federal parks and national gateways like Union Station have become symbols of neglect.
Over the past few years, I have been meeting with members of Congress and, more recently, the Trump administration, who have all signaled a willingness to aid the District. They want to make D.C. better,…
