Shumita Basu

See, even though the district has its own mayor and council who enact their budget, Congress has ultimate authority over it because it's not a state. And in this federal spending bill, the budget for D.C. was cut by $1 billion, even though Congress had already approved that money several times and local officials had already started to spend it.

See, even though the district has its own mayor and council who enact their budget, Congress has ultimate authority over it because it's not a state. And in this federal spending bill, the budget for D.C. was cut by $1 billion, even though Congress had already approved that money several times and local officials had already started to spend it.

On Friday, senators unanimously passed a separate piece of legislation to allow the district's 2025 budget to stand after D.C. leaders and residents protested the decision. But with Congress now in recess for the week, the House will not vote on it until next Monday at the earliest. So the district is still in limbo for now.

On Friday, senators unanimously passed a separate piece of legislation to allow the district's 2025 budget to stand after D.C. leaders and residents protested the decision. But with Congress now in recess for the week, the House will not vote on it until next Monday at the earliest. So the district is still in limbo for now.

On Friday, senators unanimously passed a separate piece of legislation to allow the district's 2025 budget to stand after D.C. leaders and residents protested the decision. But with Congress now in recess for the week, the House will not vote on it until next Monday at the earliest. So the district is still in limbo for now.

We spoke with Washington Post reporter Megan Flynn about the impact this cut could have on the city, residents, and the tens of millions of tourists who visit the nation's capital every year.

We spoke with Washington Post reporter Megan Flynn about the impact this cut could have on the city, residents, and the tens of millions of tourists who visit the nation's capital every year.

We spoke with Washington Post reporter Megan Flynn about the impact this cut could have on the city, residents, and the tens of millions of tourists who visit the nation's capital every year.

Stopgap spending bills typically exclude money related to D.C. 's budget. But in this bill, House Republicans removed that exception.

Stopgap spending bills typically exclude money related to D.C. 's budget. But in this bill, House Republicans removed that exception.

Stopgap spending bills typically exclude money related to D.C. 's budget. But in this bill, House Republicans removed that exception.

We're already halfway through the fiscal year, so Flynn told us city officials will most likely have to resort to immediate layoffs and furloughs of essential workers, people like teachers, firefighters, police officers, public defenders, and transit workers. The public transit system, which serves D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, could alone face a $200 million loss.

We're already halfway through the fiscal year, so Flynn told us city officials will most likely have to resort to immediate layoffs and furloughs of essential workers, people like teachers, firefighters, police officers, public defenders, and transit workers. The public transit system, which serves D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, could alone face a $200 million loss.

We're already halfway through the fiscal year, so Flynn told us city officials will most likely have to resort to immediate layoffs and furloughs of essential workers, people like teachers, firefighters, police officers, public defenders, and transit workers. The public transit system, which serves D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, could alone face a $200 million loss.

Some lawmakers who want to see D.C. 's budget restored are arguing making cuts there does effectively nothing to balance the federal budget or reduce federal spending.

Some lawmakers who want to see D.C. 's budget restored are arguing making cuts there does effectively nothing to balance the federal budget or reduce federal spending.

Some lawmakers who want to see D.C. 's budget restored are arguing making cuts there does effectively nothing to balance the federal budget or reduce federal spending.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following, starting with tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms tearing up the country. At least 40 people are dead, hundreds injured and many without power after a streak of damaging weather events. In Kansas, at least eight people were killed after dozens of vehicles were involved in a crash caused by a dust storm.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following, starting with tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms tearing up the country. At least 40 people are dead, hundreds injured and many without power after a streak of damaging weather events. In Kansas, at least eight people were killed after dozens of vehicles were involved in a crash caused by a dust storm.

Before we let you go, a few other stories we're following, starting with tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms tearing up the country. At least 40 people are dead, hundreds injured and many without power after a streak of damaging weather events. In Kansas, at least eight people were killed after dozens of vehicles were involved in a crash caused by a dust storm.