Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) recently reiterated calls to end Washington D.C.'s self-governance, tweeting, "Another startling reminder that DC is not okay #FederalizeDC #RepealDCHomeRule #PassTheBOWSERAct." This tweet highlights renewed legislative efforts, specifically the "Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act," co-sponsored by Senator Lee and Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN). The proposed bill aims to repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, effectively abolishing D.C.'s elected local government within one year of its passage.
The BOWSER Act, named after D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, seeks to return full legislative authority over the nation's capital to Congress. Proponents, including Senator Lee and Representative Ogles, argue that the bill is a response to what they describe as "violent crime, corruption, and voting by non-citizens" within the city. Representative Ogles stated that "Washington is now known for its homicides, rapes, drug overdoses, violence, theft, and homelessness," asserting that Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Council are "incapable of managing the city."
D.C.'s Home Rule Act, enacted in 1973, granted residents the ability to elect a mayor and a 13-member council, providing a limited form of self-governance after nearly a century of direct congressional rule. However, Congress retained significant oversight, including the power to review and disapprove local legislation and control the District's budget. This historical context underscores the ongoing tension between D.C.'s desire for autonomy and federal authority.
Opponents of the BOWSER Act view it as a direct assault on the democratic rights of D.C. residents. Organizations like the ACLU of D.C. have called the bill "a blatant attempt to strip away the hard-earned rights of nearly 700,000 DC residents," emphasizing that it offers no clear plan for how local affairs would be managed post-repeal. D.C. officials and advocates for self-determination argue that such federal intervention undermines the principle of local control and disregards the city's progress under Home Rule.
While the BOWSER Act has gained traction among some conservative lawmakers, similar attempts to revoke D.C.'s Home Rule have failed in the past. The bill faces significant opposition from D.C. leadership and Democratic members of Congress, making its path to becoming law uncertain. The debate over D.C.'s governance continues to be a focal point, reflecting broader discussions about local autonomy versus federal oversight in the nation's capital.