National Urban League Assails Extremist Spending Bill That Threatens to Upend District of Columbia, Gut Aid to Cities, and Hold the Country Hostage

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE ASSAILS EXTREMIST SPENDING BILL THAT THREATENS TO UPEND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, GUT AID TO CITIES, AND HOLD THE COUNTRY HOSTAGE

NEW YORK (March 13, 2025) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today condemned a move by the U.S. House of Representatives to force a  government spending bill through that will effectively give DOGE unchecked power to dismantle the federal government and defund the District of Columbia through September 30th.

“The District of Columbia has long been a stronghold of the Black middle class in the America,” Morial said. “Cutting $1 billion from the city’s budget not only threatens its services, it is an all-out assault on the schools, workforce, and city services that make our nation’s capital great.”

The spending bill passed by the House will potentially force layoffs across the city and, overall, cuts domestic programs like aid to cities and housing by $15 billion and defense by $3 billion as compared to the bipartisan bill that has been agreed to—the Fiscal Responsibility Act.  It gives way too much flexibility to an Administration that has shown what it will do with it—it will let Elon Musk dismantle departments and disrupt Americans’ lives. 

A better alternative is a short-term bill that will give the Congress time to negotiate a responsible full-year funding bill. The current path will wreak havoc on government operations and threaten the financial security and well-being of millions of American families. A shutdown will have devastating consequences for workers, families, and communities across the country as would the full-year continuing resolution under consideration in the Senate now.

“The political maneuver is another attempt to demoralize federal employees who will be forced to work without pay or face furloughs and a threat to small businesses that depend on government contracts,” Morial said. “It also disproportionately harms our communities by jeopardizing services—including food assistance, housing support, and healthcare services.

"Congress has a duty to govern responsibly. Instead, political posturing and partisan brinkmanship have once again put American livelihoods at risk. We urge lawmakers to set aside ideological differences and act immediately to pass a budget that ensures the continuity of essential government services and upholds our nation’s commitment to economic stability and public welfare."