Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, representing the District of Columbia, has vocally criticized the latest Appropriations bill concerning D.C.'s fiscal year 2026, denouncing it as overly restrictive and patronizing. The text, which emerged from the House Committee on Appropriations, has been panned for its multitude of anti-home rule riders that Norton believes unfairly target the autonomy of D.C. residents, according to a statement from Norton's office. Norton contends that the riders infringe on local governance and strip the city's more than 700,000 citizens of their right to self-government, with measures ranging from slashing DCTAG funding—a program Norton initiated—to limiting the city's ability to enforce its own emission standards and reproductive health laws.
Among the specifics of the bill are provisions that significantly curb the D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant Program (DCTAG) by cutting its funding in half, from $40 million to $20 million, even though Norton succeeded in increasing the yearly cap for individuals from $10,000 to $15,000, this partial victory is overshadowed by the broader cuts to the program, the bill also aims to override local laws on a number of fronts including gun control by allowing anyone with a concealed carry permit from other states to carry handguns in D.C., it prohibits local funding for abortion services, and it seeks to dismantle the Reproductive Health Non-Discrimination Act along with the Death with Dignity Act.
Despite the heavy-handed nature of the bill, Norton acknowledged some wins, such as maintaining the DCTAG increases she had long campaigned for and securing an exemption for the D.C. government from federal shutdowns in FY 2026. As noted in Norton's statement, "I was pleased to secure these wins for the District, including increasing the DCTAG yearly cap from $10,000 to $15,000 and lifetime award cap from $50,000 to $75,000, a change I have requested for years. Even in the face of funding for the overall program being cut by half, these increases are a positive for D.C. residents who are recipients of the program. I will continue to work to secure full funding for DCTAG.” Norton remains committed to pushing back against the anti-home rule riders and working to restore full funding for programs crucial to the residents of D.C.
The debate over D.C.'s home rule continues, as Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton pushes for the city's ability to enforce its own laws. Norton is advocating for local control over measures such as the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, vehicle emissions regulations, automated traffic enforcement, and a proposal to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. A related bill in Congress seeks to block D.C. from using local funds to implement these policies.
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