AFGE is condemning congressional passage of a resolution overturning changes to the District of Columbia’s tax code that will slash projected revenue for the District while reversing changes to the D.C. tax code intended to support families and low-income residents.
On Feb. 4, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to reverse changes to the D.C. local tax code that the D.C. Council had approved last year. The U.S. Senate last week approved the measure, sending it to President Trump’s desk for his approval.
Local officials warn the action could delay approximately $400 million in anticipated revenue and require roughly $600 million in spending cuts over the next four years. Officials have also cautioned that the override could disrupt the current tax filing season and force some taxpayers to refile their returns.
“Congress has no business interfering with tax codes and policies approved by individual states – or the District of Columbia,” AFGE National President Everett Kelley said. “This partisan action overrides the will of D.C.’s residents and elected leaders and threatens funding for essential services. Our union will continue fighting to keep Congress out of D.C.’s pocketbook.”
This is just the latest attempt by Congress to usurp control of D.C.’s budget authority. A continuing resolution enacted in March 2025 omitted a critical provision that usually allows D.C. to continue spending according to its current local budget – forcing it to revert to the previous year’s approved budget levels. The end result was a $500 million budget shortfall that forced D.C. to freeze new hiring, promotions, overtime, and bonuses – significantly impacting the city’s workforce.
“As the union representing over 5,000 D.C. government workers, I urge Congress to let the D.C. Council manage its budget without federal interference,” AFGE District 14 National Vice President Ottis Johnson Jr. said.
Since taking office in January 2025, President Trump has issued a series of unlawful executive orders, and taken several unlawful actions, seeking to shut down congressionally mandated agencies, fire and displace federal workers, outlaw their unions, and gut merit systems protections.
Read More
A federal judge has ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to reinstate the union contract covering 320,000 VA employees represented by AFGE in a major victory over the implementation of President Trump’s union-busting executive orders.
Read More
As the Department of Homeland Security shutdown reaches the one-month mark with no end in sight, AFGE leaders are calling on Congress to ensure all DHS workers are paid.
Read More
