Trump urges Congress to address Washington budget cuts

President Donald Trump is urging Congress to fix a budget cut affecting the District of Columbia. He aims to restore around $1.1 billion in local funding that was unintentionally reduced by a recent spending bill. Trump is willing to support this effort actively, using calls or social media to encourage House members to back the legislation. The Senate recently passed a bill that Trump endorsed, which aims to rectify this funding issue. White House officials believe the cut was an oversight and expect it to be resolved. They say Trump trusts House Speaker Mike Johnson to guide the bipartisan measure to a vote without publicly pressuring him. However, some congressional Republicans claim the funding shortfall may be closer to $500 million, not $1.1 billion. Local officials warn that failing to address the budget cut could lead to severe mid-year cuts, impacting law enforcement, infrastructure, and public education services. As House Republicans work on a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown, the omission of the District's budget language surprised many lawmakers. The House Appropriations Chair initially misunderstood the omission's purpose, citing it was related to funding for a presidential inauguration. Most of the District's $21.2 billion budget comes from local taxes, while about $5 billion is federal funding. Speaker Johnson is now challenged with determining how and when to present the fix to the House, especially facing resistance from some Republican members. Outside pressure is increasing, with residents voicing their concerns about the budget cuts.