Fiscal Year 2027 Federal Portion Budget Request Act of 2026

MURIEL BOWSER
MAYOR
April 14, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson, Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
On behalf of the more than 700,000 residents of Washington, DC, I am pleased to submit to the Council of
the District of Columbia my Fiscal Year 2027 Proposed Budget and Financial Plan, Grow DC.1 This
budget reflects our resilience, our values, and our continued commitment to building a stronger, safer,
and more vibrant city.
It's worth repeating that Washington, DC is a world-class city, delivering first-class services and
projects to our residents. We have the number one park system in the nation; built 36,000 new homes in
less than five years; lead the nation in office-to-residential conversions; have the fastest improving urban
school district; and have driven down crime to its lowest levels in at least three decades. And last year,
we secured the city's largest private investment with the announcement that our Washington Commanders
would come back home to a new RFK Stadium.
With this budget we remain laser focused on growing our local economy. Before the COVID-19
pandemic, the city's economic growth was predictable. We had a fast-growing population and strong
downtown demand that led to steady revenue growth which allowed us to expand our programs and
services. However, this is not the economy we have today. While our population is still growing-that
growth is happening slowly-widespread teleworking continues to strain our commercial office
market, and federal job losses have impacted thousands of District households, all of which contribute to
slower revenue growth. The Grow DC budget faces these new economic realities head on so that we can
continue growing our economy and delivering world-class city services.
Investing in High-Quality Education
Our years of investing in public education have delivered results our city can be proud of--our highest
ever graduation rate, continued enrollment gains, and great schools in all eight wards. That's why the
1 Included in this submission are the Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Act of 2026, the Fiscal Year 2027 Federal Portion
Budget Request Act of 2026, and the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act of 2026. In addition, I am submitting the
following accompanying measures: the Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Emergency Act of 2026, the Fiscal
Year 2025 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026, and the Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Emergency
Declaration Resolution of 2026.
GrowDC budgetincreasestheUniformPerStudentFundingFormulaby2.55percent,bringingthefoundationlevelto$15,455perstudent,andsupportsnearly100,000publicandpubliccharterstudents.We areexpandingtheAdvancedTechnicalCenters,whichgiveourhighschoolstudentshands-on
careerandtechnicaleducation,andweareexpandinghigh-impacttutoringtohelpmorestudents
recoverandgrowacademically.
The Grow DC budgetprovidescontinuedsupporttotheDC FuturesProgram?toensureresidents
pursuingdegreesattheUniversityoftheDistrictofColumbia(UDC)canfinishtheirprograms.Our
six-yearcapitalplanincludesmorethan$2billiontomodernizepublicschoolfacilities,upgradetechnology,andsupportimprovementsatUDC,includingfundsnecessarytounlockitsfirst-ever
studenthousingthroughapublic-privatepartnership.

ContinuingHistorieProgressinPublicSafety
We havemadesignificantprogressindrivingdowncrimesinceitspikedin2023,resultingintheJowestamountofviolentcrimeinatleast30years.TheGrowDCbudgetbuildsonthismomentumbyensuringMPD hastheresourcestohire,recruit,andretainofficers,whilealsosupportingfullfunding
fortheFireandEmergencyMedicalServicesDepartment,OfficeofUnifiedCommunications,DepartmentofCorrections,Departmentof ForensicSciences,andothercoreagenciesinourpublic
safetyecosystem.

We areinvestingmorethan$500millioninoursix-yearcapitalplantomodernizepublicsafetyfacilities,purchasenewfiretrucksandambulances,replaceagingandoutdatedequipment,increase
housingcapacityatourjuvenilejusticefacilities,andupgradecriticalcommunicationsandpublicsafetytechnologysoourfirstrespondershavethetoolstheyneedtohelpkeepussafe.

GrowingOurLocalEconomyandMakingItEasiertoDoBusiness

TokeepDC competitiveandensurethecity’sstrongeconomicfuture,theGrowDC budgetreducesthecostofdoingbusinessbyloweringbusiness-relatedfees,supportsmajorredevelopmentprojects
throughtargetedincentives,andcontinuestoinvestingrantprogramstohelpoursmallbusinessesthrive.
We continuetodiversifyoureconomythroughtheVitalityFund’,theTech EcosystemFund‘,andnew
housingtaxabatementstoencourageproductionofmoderate-income,“missingmiddle”housing.WearealsoinvestingsignificantlyintherevitalizationofDowntownandunlockingunderutilizedspaces
citywide—fromHillEasttoPoplarPointtotheRFKcampus.

ExpandingHealthCareAccessandSupportingResidentsinNeed
NearlyfourintenDCresidentsdependonourMedicaid,BasicHealthPlan,orAllianceprograms.TheGrowDC budgetmaintainscomprehensivecoveragewhilealsorespondingtorisinghealthcarecosts.We areaddingnewdentalandvisionbenefitsforBasicHealthPlanandAllianceenrollees,funding
newchipcardsforourSNAPparticipantstohelppreventbenefittheft,andexpandingbridgehousingandhomelessnesspreventionprograms.We arefundingthereplacementofkey shelterfacilitiesandcapitalimprovementsthatsupportresidentsexperiencinghomelessness.Andtosupportourseniors,
2hraps:/www.ude.edu/de-futures/>hitps://dmped.de.gov/page/vitalityfund“https://dmped.de.gov/page/TEF
thisbudgetprotectsprogramsandservicesattheDepartmentofAgingandCommunityLivingand
continuesourinvestmentinanewSeniorWellnessCenterinWard2.
ProtectingCore PublicServices
Residentsneedcleanneighborhoods,reliabletransportation,accessiblerecreation,andresponsiveservices.TheGrowDC budgetmaintainsstrongfundingfortheDepartmentofParksandRecreation
(DPR),DC PublicLibraries(DCPL),DepartmentofPublicWorks,DistrictDepartmentofTransportation,DepartmentofEnergyandtheEnvironment,andDepartmentofMotorVehiclesto
ensurereliablecorepublicservicesforourresidentsandbusinesses.
WecontinuetosupportcommunityprogramsofferedatDCPLandDPR,includingthenewlyopenedFortDupontIceArena,andwearemaintainingtheCleanCorridorsprogramtokeepcommercialareassafeandwelcoming.Tomaintainourinnovativeedge,theGrowDCbudgetfundsthedevelopmentofdigitaldrivers’licenseswhichwillletresidentshavesecure,electronicversionsoftheirdrivers’licensesstoredintheirdigitalwallets.
Majorcapitalinvestmentsacrossthecitywillmodernizerecreationcenters,allpubliclibraries,andfundplanninganddesignworkonthe125-acreKenilworthParkNorth,whichcouldleadtothecreation
ofastate-of-the-artdestinationparkinWard7.Ourcapitalplanalsoincludesnearly$900milliontoimprovemajorbridgesandcontinueourworktomaintainourroads,sidewalks,andalleys.We alsocontinueourtransportationfundingcommitmentstoWMATA,CapitalBikeshare,andexpandedtrails,
andpedestriannetworks.

LookingForward
We havefacedsignificantchallengesoverthepastfewyears.ButWashington,DC,remainsstrong
becauseofourresidentsandbusinessesandbecausewehavebeenstrongstewardsoftaxpayerdollars
overthepastthreedecades.
Today,focusingongrowthismoreimportantthaniteverwasinWashington,DC.Forallthethingsweloveaboutourcity—ourgreatschools,parks,transportation,arts,culture,andrestaurants—theyallrequireustohaverobustrevenuestomakerobustinvestments.Forthat,weneedapro-growthbudgetwhichwearenowdeliveringwithGrowDC.
‘Thankyouforyourcontinuedtrustandengagement.
Sipe
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" Chairman Phil Mendelson
at the request of the Mayor
A BILL
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
18 To adopt, as a request to Congress for appropriation and authorization, the federal portion of the
19 budget of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending September
20 30, 2027.
21
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
23 act may be cited as the "Fiscal Year 2027 Federal Portion Budget Request Act of 2026".
24 Sec. 2. Adoption of the federal portion of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
25 There is adopted, as a request to Congress for appropriation and authorization, the following
26 federal portion of the budget of the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year
27 ending September 30, 2027:
28 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FEDERAL FUNDS APPROPRIATION REQUEST
29 FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS
30 For salaries and expenses for the District of Columbia Courts, including the transfer and hire
31 of motor vehicles, $273,977,000 to be allocated as follows: for the District of Columbia Court of
32 Appeals, $15,582,000, of which not to exceed $2,500 is for official reception and representation
33 expenses; for the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, $147,151,000, of which not to exceed
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$2,500 is for official reception and representation expenses; for the District of Columbia Court 34
System, $89,317,000, of which not to exceed $2,500 is for official reception and representation 35
expenses; and $21,927,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028, for capital improvements 36
for District of Columbia courthouse facilities; Provided, That funds made available for capital 37
improvements shall be expended consistent with the District of Columbia Courts master plan study 38
and facilities condition assessment; Provided further, That, in addition to the amounts appropriated 39
herein, fees received by the District of Columbia Courts for administering bar examinations and 40
processing District of Columbia bar admissions may be retained and credited to this appropriation, 41
to remain available until expended, for salaries and expenses associated with such activities, 42
notwithstanding section 450 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (section 1-204.50, D.C. 43
Official Code); Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, all amounts 44
under this heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of Management and Budget and 45
obligated and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for salaries and expenses of 46
Federal agencies; Provided further, That 30 days after providing written notice to the Committees 47
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the District of Columbia Courts 48
may reallocate not more than $9,000,000 of the funds provided under this heading among the items 49
and entities funded under this heading; Provided further, That the Joint Committee on Judicial 50
Administration in the District of Columbia may, by regulation, establish a program substantially 51
similar to the program set forth in subchapter II of chapter 35 of title 5, United States Code, for 52
employees of the District of Columbia Courts. 53
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE COURT SERVICES AND 54
OFFENDER SUPERVISION AGENCY FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 55
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For salaries and expenses, including the transfer and hire of motor vehicles, of the Court 56
Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, as authorized by the 57
National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, $277,260,000 of 58
which not to exceed $2,000 is for official reception and representation expenses related to 59
Community Supervision and Pretrial Services Agency programs; of which not to exceed $25,000 is 60
for dues and assessments relating to the implementation of the Court Services and Offender 61
Supervision Agency Interstate Supervision Act of 2002; Provided, That, of the funds appropriated 62
under this heading, $193,931,000 shall be for necessary expenses of Community Supervision and 63
Sex Offender Registration, to include expenses relating to the monitoring of adults subject to 64
protection orders or the provision of services for or related to such persons; Provided further, That, 65
of the funds appropriated under this heading, $83,329,000 shall be available to the Pretrial Services 66
Agency; Provided further, That notwithstanding any other provision of law, all amounts under this 67
heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of Management and Budget and obligated and 68
expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for salaries and expenses of other Federal 69
agencies; Provided further, That amounts under this heading may be used for programmatic 70
incentives for defendants to successfully complete their terms of supervision. 71
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE 72
For salaries and expenses, including the transfer and hire of motor vehicles, of the District of 73
Columbia Public Defender Service, as authorized by the National Capital Revitalization and Self-74
Government Improvement Act of 1997, $53,382,000; Provided, That notwithstanding any other 75
provision of law, all amounts under this heading shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of 76
Management and Budget and obligated and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for 77
salaries and expenses of Federal agencies; Provided further, That the District of Columbia Public 78
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Defender Service may establish for employees of the District of Columbia Public Defender Service 79
a program substantially similar to the program set forth in subchapter II of chapter 35 of title 5, 80
United States Code, except that the maximum amount of the payment made under the program to 81
any individual may not exceed the amount referred to in section 3523(b)(3)(B) of title 5, United 82
States Code; Provided further, That for the purposes of engaging with, and receiving services from, 83
Federal Franchise Fund Programs established in accordance with section 403 of the Government 84
Management Reform Act of 1994, as amended, the District of Columbia Public Defender Service 85
shall be considered an agency of the United States Government; Provided further, That the District 86
of Columbia Public Defender Service may enter into contracts for the procurement of severable 87
services and multiyear contracts for the acquisition of property and services to the same extent and 88
under the same conditions as an executive agency under sections 3902 and 3903 of title 41, United 89
States Code. 90
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR DEFENDER SERVICES IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS 91
For payments authorized under section 11-2604 and section 11-2605, D.C. Official Code 92
(relating to representation provided under the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Act), payments 93
for counsel appointed in proceedings in the Family Court of the Superior Court of the District of 94
Columbia under chapter 23 of title 16, D.C. Official Code, or pursuant to contractual agreements to 95
provide guardian ad litem representation, training, technical assistance, and such other services as 96
are necessary to improve the quality of guardian ad litem representation, payments for counsel 97
appointed in adoption proceedings under chapter 3 of title 16, D.C. Official Code, and payments 98
authorized under section 21-2060, D.C. Official Code (relating to services provided under the 99
District of Columbia Guardianship, Protective Proceedings, and Durable Power of Attorney Act of 100
1986), $46,005,000, to remain available until expended; Provided, That funds provided under this 101
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heading shall be administered by the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration in the District of 102
Columbia; Provided further, That 30 days after providing written notice to the Committees on 103
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the District of Columbia Courts 104
may reallocate the funds provided under this heading; Provided further, That, notwithstanding any 105
other provision of law, this appropriation shall be apportioned quarterly by the Office of 106
Management and Budget and obligated and expended in the same manner as funds appropriated for 107
expenses of Federal agencies. 108
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR RESIDENT TUITION SUPPORT 109
For a Federal payment to the District of Columbia, to be deposited into a dedicated account, 110
for a nationwide program to be administered by the Mayor, for District of Columbia resident tuition 111
support, $40,000,000, to remain available until expended; Provided, That such funds, including any 112
interest accrued thereon, may be used on behalf of eligible District of Columbia residents to pay an 113
amount based upon the difference between in-State and out-of-State tuition at public institutions of 114
higher education, or to pay up to $2,500 each year at eligible private institutions of higher 115
education; Provided further, That the awarding of such funds may be prioritized on the basis of a 116
resident’s academic merit, the income and need of eligible students, and such other factors as may 117
be authorized; Provided further, That the District of Columbia government shall maintain a 118
dedicated account for the Resident Tuition Support Program that shall consist of the Federal funds 119
appropriated to the Program in this Act and any subsequent appropriations, any unobligated 120
balances from prior fiscal years, and any interest earned in this or any fiscal year; Provided further, 121
That the account shall be under the control of the District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer, who 122
shall use those funds solely for the purposes of carrying out the Resident Tuition Support Program; 123
Provided further, That the Office of the Chief Financial Officer shall provide a quarterly financial 124
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report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate for 125
these funds showing, by object class, the expenditures made, and the purpose therefor. 126
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT 127
For a Federal payment for a school improvement program in the District of Columbia, 128
$52,500,000, to remain available until expended, for payments authorized under the Scholarship for 129
Opportunity and Results Act (division C of Public Law 112-10); Provided, That, to the extent that 130
funds are available for opportunity scholarships and following the priorities included in section 131
3006 of such Act, the Secretary of Education shall make scholarships available to students eligible 132
under section 3013(3) of such Act (Public Law 112-10; 125 Stat. 211), including students who were 133
not offered a scholarship during any previous school year; Provided further, That within funds 134
provided for opportunity scholarships up to $1,200,000 shall be for the activities specified in 135
sections 3007(b) through 3007(d) of the Act and up to $500,000 shall be for the activities specified 136
in section 3009 of the Act; Provided further, That none of the funds made available under this 137
heading may be used for an opportunity scholarship for a student to attend a school which does not 138
certify to the Secretary of Education that the student will be provided with the same protections 139
under the Federal laws which are enforced by the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of 140
Education which are provided to a student of a public elementary or secondary school in the District 141
of Columbia and which does not certify to the Secretary of Education that the student and the 142
student’s parents will be provided with the same services, rights, and protections under the 143
Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) which are provided to a 144
student and a student’s parents of a public elementary or secondary school in the District of 145
Columbia, as enumerated in Table 2 of Government Accountability Office Report 18-94 (entitled 146
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“Federal Actions Needed to Ensure Parents Are Notified About Changes in Rights for Students with 147
Disabilities”), issued November 2017. 148
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL 149
For a Federal payment to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, $2,750,000, to remain 150
available until expended, to support initiatives related to the coordination of Federal and local 151
criminal justice resources in the District of Columbia. 152
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR JUDICIAL COMMISSIONS 153
For a Federal payment to the Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure, $598,000, to 154
remain available until expended, and to the Judicial Nomination Commission, $350,000, to remain 155
available until expended. 156
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NATIONAL GUARD 157
For a Federal payment to the District of Columbia National Guard, $600,000, to remain 158
available until expended, for the Major General David F. Wherley, Jr. District of Columbia National 159
Guard Retention and College Access Program. 160
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR TESTING AND TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS 161
For a Federal payment to the District of Columbia for the testing of individuals for, and the 162
treatment of individuals with, human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency 163
syndrome in the District of Columbia, $4,000,000, to remain available until expended. 164
FEDERAL PAYMENT FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING AND SECURITY COSTS 165
IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 166
For a Federal payment of necessary expenses, as determined by the Mayor of the District of 167
Columbia in written consultation with the elected county or city officials of surrounding 168
jurisdictions, $70,000,000, to remain available until expended, for the costs of providing public 169
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safety related to the presence of the National Capital in the District of Columbia, including support 170
requested by the Director of the United States Secret Service in carrying out protective duties under 171
the direction of the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for the costs of providing support to 172
respond to immediate and specific terrorist threats or attacks in the District of Columbia or 173
surrounding jurisdictions. 174
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY 175
For a Federal payment to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, $14,000,000, 176
to remain available until expended, to continue implementation of the Combined Sewer Overflow 177
Long-Term Control Plan; Provided, That the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority 178
provides a 100 percent match for this payment. 179
FEDERAL PAYMENT TO THE WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT AUTHORITY 180
For a Federal payment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, 181
$158,000,000, to remain available until expended, for capital and preventive maintenance projects 182
included in the Authority’s Capital Improvement Plan and authorized under the Passenger Rail 183
Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. 184
Sec. 3. The federal funds for which appropriation by Congress is requested by this act 185
constitute the federal portion of the Fiscal Year 2027 annual budget for the District of Columbia 186
government under section 446(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 187
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 801; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.46(a)). 188
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 189
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer as the fiscal 190
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 191
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § l-301.47a). 192
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Sec. 5. Effective date. 193
This act shall take effect as provided in section 446 of the District of Columbia Home Rule 194
Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 801; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.46). 195
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

BRIAN L. SCHWALB PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
ATTORNEY GENERAL ATTORNEY-CLIENT COMMUNICATION

LEGAL COUNSEL DIVISION

MEMORANDUM

TO: Tomás Talamante
Director
Office of Policy and Legislative Affairs

FROM: Adele El-Khouri
Deputy Attorney General
Legal Counsel Division

DATE: April 13, 2026

SUBJECT: Legal Sufficiency Review of Draft Bill, the “Fiscal Year 2027 Federal Portion Budget
Request Act of 2026”
(AE-26-118)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

This is to Certify that the Office of the Attorney General has reviewed the
above-referenced legislation and found it to be legally sufficient as to form. If you have any
questions in this regard, please do not hesitate to call me at (202) 262-6402.

_________________________________
Adele El-Khouri