House Oversight Chair Urges D.C. Council to Finalize $2.7B RFK Stadium Redevelopment

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has urged the D.C. Council to expedite approval of the $2.7 billion redevelopment deal for the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus before its August recess, warning that delays could jeopardize a major economic opportunity for the city. Comer emphasized the clear mandate provided by federal legislation and expressed concern over the removal of the stadium's authorizing language from the D.C. budget, which could delay revitalization of the 174-acre site. While D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson has assured that meetings with the Washington Commanders remain positive and that the Council is working toward a vote, some Council members call for further financial and community impact analysis. Meanwhile, opposition group "Homes Not Stadiums" is seeking a ballot initiative to block licensing or leasing of the RFK Campus property, arguing the deal imposes excessive taxpayer costs, though legal opinions question the initiative's validity. Additionally, Maryland and Virginia have reportedly revived their bids to host the Commanders' stadium, raising the stakes as the exclusivity clause with D.C. has expired. The situation highlights tensions between the urgency to finalize the deal and community and political concerns about its financial and social impacts.