“Dear PoPville,
I really appreciated the kind notes being shared by a group of peaceful demonstrators outside the L’Enfant Plaza expressing support for federal workers.”
Good people abound.
Federal Government
Thanks to C. for sending a sweet show of support to federal workers from outside navy/archives metro this soggy morning. The video: (more…)
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photo by Gemal Woods
Ed. Note: CNN reported:
“Personnel from the Department of Government Efficiency, accompanied by DC police officers, gained access to the US Institute of Peace Monday after being turned away last week.”
A reader writes: “We see & hear crazy things that are now a daily occurrence in our government, sadly. Today, March 17, the aforementioned action was taken at the US Institute of Peace on 22nd Street NW. We know current actions are very different from actions that we may have considered normal. There is no normal today! How and why is armed force being used in a non-Federal institution and much less on the streets of our city?! What does MPD and Mayor Bowser have to say in response to this action?
Have we crossed that imaginary line yet?”
From MPD:
“On Monday, March 17, 2025, at approximately 4 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) was contacted by the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) regarding an ongoing incident at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), located at 2301 Constitution Ave, NW.
The USAO advised MPD that they had been made aware that at least one person was refusing to leave the property at the direction of the acting USIP President, who was lawfully in charge of the facility. (more…)
photo by Emma K Alexandra
“Dear PoPville,
With the return-to-office mandate across the federal workforce, many out-of-state employees are facing a difficult choice: commute for hours each way or telework and risk termination.
I’m exploring whether anyone in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area has space they’d be willing to share with a federal employee during the workweek. Likewise, if you’re a fed seeking temporary housing for some or all weekdays due to an unreasonable commute, I’d like to hear from you. (more…)
photo by Rich Renomeron
From Mayor Muriel Bowser:
“We thank Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins as well as Vice Chair Patty Murray, Senator Angela Alsobrooks, Senator Tim Kaine, Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Senator Mark Warner for advancing a measure to restore DC’s Fiscal Year 2025 approved budget. Senate approval today is a major first step as we continue working with the House of Representatives on final passage to ensure critical services provided in the Nation’s Capital, including our police officers, firefighters, teachers, medical services and hospital network, aren’t haphazardly cut in the middle of the fiscal year. DC is proud of our strong financial management, balanced budgets, and strong bond ratings. Thank you to DC residents and schoolchildren, businesses, and our neighbors and friends for highlighting the certain consequences of blocking our local and approved spending. As we work toward final passage, we will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with the DC Council, Chief Financial Officer, and Attorney General to meet our obligations, provide services, and invest in our growth.”
From Council Chairman Mendelson: (more…)
I blanked on Monday but for this coming Monday, thanks to all who passed on the kind gesture from Pizza Paradiso:
“🇺🇸Lunch on us! Free lunch Mondays at Pizzeria Paradiso for current federal employees and recently unemployed federal workers. Every Monday: (more…)
From DC Vegan (1633 P Street, NW):
“Calling all probies, USAID, & others whose federal employment has been unlawfully terminated: Join us for yoga and a bit of Zen @peastreetyoga for FREE yoga classes Thursdays in March. (more…)
From Grassroots Comedy:
“Amid chaotic budget cuts and thousands of layoffs across the US government, three federal workers are standing up for their tedious, essential duties in keeping the country running in a new series of videos from Grassroots Comedy, a DC-based comedy nonprofit. (more…)
The latest from the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:
“After the House passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through September that will result in projected cuts of $1 billion for D.C., Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said she was disappointed and outraged but vowed to continue working with her colleagues to defeat the resolution in the Senate. (more…)
First from Council Chairman Phil Mendelson’s office on Friday:
“DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson issued the following statement in response to Moody’s placing the District’s credit ratings on review for possible downgrade:
“Today’s decision by Moody’s to change our outlook to ‘Under Review,’ further demonstrates how the decision to drastically downsize the federal workforce is hurting our regional economy,” Mendelson said.
“According to Moody’s, this review ‘is prompted by drastic cuts to the federal workforce, which have an outsized impact on the District’s economy, finances and employment.’ The agency is also pointing to potential reductions in federal Medicaid funding as having a negative impact on the District’s credit rating. Their review will focus on the city’s fiscal 2026 and future budgets.
“Despite whatever federal challenges, our FY 2026 Budget will be a balanced budget, as it has been 29 consecutive times before,” Mendelson added. “The District government is well-managed fiscally – better than most states, which Moody’s historically acknowledges. But the shocking and disruptive cuts by the Federal government, as well as our lack of Statehood, continue to hurt the District.”
And from the Post this morning:
“GOP spending bill would lead to $1 billion in D.C. cuts, city officials say”
Council Members Henderson and Lewis George write: (more…)