EDITOR'S NOTE: Some language in this story has been adjusted following updated information from the Mayor's Office. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Tuesday a wave of significant service adjustments to District Government services, including hiring freezes, em ployee furloughs, facility closures and more. This comes after Congress passed a continuing resolution that cut $1.1 billion from the District's budget--a move that city leaders and residents warned would have "drastic consequences" on public safety, education and public works, Bowser noted. DC mayor sends letter to Congress to increase District budget by 6% The Senate passed a bill that would restore the District's budget and prevent these measures, but the House of Representatives has failed to pass the legislation, leading to the immediate implementation of what Bowser calls "extraordinary measures," including the following: A freeze on the hiring of new employees, including contract staff. A freeze on overtime for any work performed after April 27. A freeze on pay raises, promotions, bonuses, awards, reimbursements, reclassifications and other payments. A freeze on the purchase of supplies, materials, equipment and contractual services. This includes freezing the purchase or rental of equipment and machinery. A freeze on purchase-card purchases. In addition to these monetary freezes, Bowser said there would be furloughs and the closure of facilities, with the exception of public schools, shelters and healthcare facilities. Specific furloughs and closures will be announced in late April. Officials said these changes would go into effect immediately. How did we get here? In September 2024, Congress and former President Joe Biden signed a continuing resolution for Fiscal Year 2025, approving the District's multi-billion-dollar budget. The budget included more than $13.2 billion in funds generated by D.C., including income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes. Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say The budget was again approved in December 2024 when Congress and Biden signed an extension to the previous continuing resolution. In March 2025, however, Congress adopted and President Donald Trump signed a full-year resolution for FY 2025, essentially nullifying the District's pre-approved budget and reverting it to the FY 24 spending levels. In short, the resolution cut D.C.'s budget by $1.1 billion. This cut sparked immediate pushback from the mayor, DC Council and residents, who warned Congress about the consequences that would result from this "unprecedented and wholly unnecessary cut," Bowser wrote. Cuts would specifically impact public safety, education and public works. The Senate passed a bill restoring the District's budget, but the House of Representatives has failed to pass it. "Without the ability to fully execute the Fiscal Year 2025 budget as adopted and approved by the District, this gap will force reductions in critical services provided by our largest agencies," Bowser noted. 2025-053-Extraordinary-Measures-to-Address-Congressionally-Imposed-Cuts-to-the-Districts-Fiscal-Year-2025-Budget94Download ...read more read less