Bowser Unveils Economic Growth Plan for DC Amid Federal Job Cuts

Facing the prospect of up to 40,000 federal job losses, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has unveiled a bold economic plan within her Fiscal Year 2026 budget to revitalize the city’s economy and offset federal cuts. The plan calls for major investments in downtown revitalization, transforming federal office spaces, and boosting sectors such as sports, entertainment, the arts, and technology. Bowser’s agenda includes substantial funding for public space improvements, support for the technology sector via a new Technology Ecosystem Fund, and targeted initiatives like the Chinatown Renewal Initiative and Gallery Place Cultural District. The budget also proposes reforms to make doing business in D.C. easier, including zoning and permitting reforms, a pause on certain environmental standards, and the repeal of the controversial tipped wage law (Initiative 82). Additionally, major investments in education and childcare are outlined, with increased funding for Pre-K, child care subsidies, and early childhood educator pay. Bowser stresses that these interventions could turn a potential net loss of jobs into a gain of 15,000, provided the D.C. Council supports her proposals.