Denouncing the recently passed House Continuing Resolution (CR) bill, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) has expressed strong opposition to proposed budget cuts exceeding $1 billion for the District of Columbia. The cuts include significant reductions in funding for WMATA, the public transit system serving DC. The ATU, representing over 15,000 public transit workers in the DC area, is urging Congress to approve a clean CR without these reductions to prevent a government shutdown.
“Federal workers have just returned to their offices. The trains and buses in the DC area are full again, for the first time since before the pandemic. Now we are going to cut service and leave them stranded? It will also impact critical services that residents of the District depend on each day. This makes no sense,” said ATU International President John Costa.
Costa further emphasized the need for Senate intervention: “The Senate needs to reject the DC cuts and call for a clean CR to ensure our nation’s Capital has a robust transit system, a quality school system, reliable public safety, and affordable housing.”
The House legislation mandates over $1 billion in cuts from the District of Columbia’s budget, affecting not only WMATA but also leading to potential layoffs of transit workers, service reductions, and fare increases. Other essential services such as education, public safety, water supply, housing, and various critical services in DC and its surrounding areas would also be impacted.
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