Local leaders across the Washington, DC, region are bracing for the cascading effects of a stopgap measure in Congress that would strip $1.1 billion from the District’s locally funded budget. The shortfall, which would come halfway through the city’s current fiscal year, would prompt service cuts and mass layoffs, they warn, resulting in “devastating” consequences for public safety, education and other essential services like the regional transit system. The continuing resolution, which is opposed by most Democrats, is likely to pass today after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer backed down from earlier threats to block the bill in order to avert a government shutdown. Read more from Kriston Capps and me about what’s at stake today on CityLab: Washington, DC, Region Braces for ‘Devastating’ Cuts from Congress — Linda Poon |