Washington, D.C
DC Council member offers crash course on $1B DC budget cut narrowly averted by Congress – WTOP News
Citing confusion over the potential $1 billion impact to D.C.’s budget under the continuing resolution on Capitol Hill, D.C. At-Large Council member Christina Henderson offered a tutorial on her X account.
Citing confusion over the proposed $1 billion impact to D.C.’s budget, D.C. At-Large Council member Christina Henderson offered a tutorial on her X account on Thursday.
“Budgets can be complicated,” she wrote. “So to combat confusion, I’d like to introduce ‘The District Budget 101, pt1.’”
Henderson’s social media post got over 24,000 views, and she told WTOP, “I didn’t know it would go as viral as it did.”
She said she was eager to help people understand the D.C. budget process as it relates to federal spending.
As an at-large council member, Henderson represents all D.C. residents, not just one ward of the District. She said she wanted to emphasize any cuts that would have to be made would come in the middle of D.C.’s fiscal year.
“Imagine the Congress asking us to literally cut teachers in the middle of the school year,” Henderson said while writing on a whiteboard.
The bulk of money that would have to be cut would come from three “buckets,” she said.
“Public education — so teachers; public safety — so firefighters, police officers; and then human services,” Henderson said.
Proposed cuts would affect staffing levels, she explained, because the biggest cost driver in those agencies is in personnel. Within human services, Henderson said that would include “those who are helping individuals who might be experiencing homelessness or might be in need of social safety net services.”
The Trump administration has criticized D.C. on how it handles crime, homeless encampments, litter and graffiti — all things that Henderson said would be affected should the District be in the position of having to slash spending in the current budget year.
Henderson spent Friday morning lobbying lawmakers on Capitol Hill, hoping to create a provision in the continuing resolution that would protect D.C. from having to revert to its 2024 spending levels.
By Friday evening, U.S. senators announced they would be passing a bill that would allow D.C. to keep its 2025 budget intact rather than roll back to 2024 levels. The bill reverses the provision in the government spending package that would have required $1 billion in cuts.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the bill “very good news” and urged the House to quickly pass it.
“As I told some offices today, this is not the only time you will see District residents. If this goes forward, we will be here every week until you fix it,” she told federal lawmakers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Felony warning issued as arrests reported at Reflecting Pool
Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
WASHINGTON – Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
The warning comes after authorities reported multiple arrests Saturday involving people accused of removing material from the Reflecting Pool.
Algae, paint problems plague Reflecting Pool
What we know:
While officials have not released the exact number of arrests or identified those taken into custody, law enforcement agencies said anyone caught taking paint chips or debris from the site could face serious criminal penalties.
Visitors have reported seeing blue paint chips floating in the water as cleanup crews use mobile draining machines to remove algae and restore the pool. The unusual appearance of the Reflecting Pool has attracted large crowds to the National Mall in recent days, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that work on the Reflecting Pool would begin immediately and claimed several arrests had been made in connection with what he described as deliberate sabotage of the site.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific charges filed in the reported arrests. However, federal officials warned that removing government property from the Reflecting Pool could result in felony charges, and prosecutors could pursue more serious offenses if evidence shows anyone intentionally contaminated the water or caused additional damage.
READ MORE: Reflecting Pool looks ‘like vomit,’ visitors say; crews continue cleaning job
“If there are more serious products that are put into the Reflecting Pool to create more algae or a bigger problem, then we’ll consider more serious charges,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told Fox News. “But make no mistake, making D.C. beautiful is a priority and if you damage, vandalize or do anything to impact something like the Reflecting Pool, you can be prosecuted.”
What’s next:
The Reflecting Pool remains under active cleanup as officials investigate the cause of the algae bloom, according to the president.
According to federal contract data, a more extensive renovation, including potentially draining the pool again, could cost more than $14 million.
The Source: Information from FOX 5 D.C. reporting, President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and other federal officials.
Washington, D.C
Jeanine Pirro vows DC Reflecting Pool vandals will be ‘prosecuted to the fullest extent’ | Fox News Video
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro joins ‘The Sunday Briefing’ to discuss vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the broader issue of crime in the nation’s capital.
: U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro joins Peter Doocy to discuss the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism after a $14 million renovation. Pirro addresses President Trump’s accusations against ABC reporter Jonathan Karl for tampering with the pool. She emphasizes Trump’s commitment to making D.C. safe and beautiful by prosecuting all violations of law, including minor crimes, to foster respect.
WASHINGTON (7News) — Two men were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Northwest Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Third District officers responded around 10:08 p.m. to the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW after receiving reports of a shooting.
ALSO SEE | Man dies after early-morning shooting in DC’s Shaw neighborhood
When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
D.C. Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and took both victims to hospitals for treatment. Authorities said the injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
Investigators have not released a description of any suspects, and no arrests have been announced as of Sunday.
READ ALSO | Suspect in Shaw Metro fatal shooting of AU grad appears in D.C. Superior Court
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 202-727-9099 or submit anonymous tips by texting 50411.
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