On February 6, Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee proposed the Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act, which will overturn DC’s Home Rule one year after the bill is passed. However, the White House has recently softened its stance on the legislation targeting DC’s autonomy, with Mayor Bowser adopting a cooperative approach to protect Home Rule. 

This has included her engaging in discussions with federal officials and suggesting plans to paint over the Black Lives Matter Plaza mural. While the BOWSER Act remains uncertain, this shift shows ongoing efforts in the District to balance federal oversight with local governance.

The Home Rule Act was passed in Congress in 1973, giving DC local control for the first time in a century. The law allowed DC to elect a mayor to serve as a chief executive of the city and a DC council made up of 13 members who can make local laws, propose a budget, and oversee city programs. The law also granted DC residents an elected advisory neighborhood commissioner who advocates for citizens’ concerns in their neighborhoods. 

Additionally, DC gained a delegate in the House of Representatives who can talk in Congress and serve on committees but can’t vote on proposed legislation. Despite this, Congress has the power to reject laws that were passed by the local government, and reject the city budget, while the president appoints DC judges. 

While Home Rule has given DC residents self-determination, the proposed BOWSER Act threatens to shift that power balance, placing the city back under direct federal control. 

Senator Lee, Representative Ogles, and other supporters of the bill argued that federal supervision is necessary due to concerns about crime, corruption, and voting by non-citizens in DC. However, many local officials including Mayor Muriel Bowser—whom the bill is named after—have condemned the proposal. Bowser argued that instead of losing autonomy, DC should be working toward statehood and greater self-governance. 

“It’s infuriating because we’re being dictated by [the federal government] which is completely unfair,” said junior Sofia Amin, voicing frustration over the proposal.

Members of the Jackson-Reed community are concerned about the potential impact on education. Currently, DC public schools are overseen by the city government, allowing for policies tailored to the needs of local students. If Congress assumes control, education policies could be dictated by lawmakers from outside the district, potentially leading to decisions that do not align with the needs of students and teachers. “The fact that [Home Rule] is at risk of being taken away is extremely scary,” Amin said. 

“If DC loses Home Rule I see the district losing the ability to set its curriculum and set its graduation requirements,” said social studies teacher Ariel Alford. Other critical issues that have raised concerns are teacher training and funding distribution, which would disproportionately affect marginalized communities in DC.

Following President Donald Trump’s executive order disbanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, students and teachers are increasingly fearful of the future of education. “I am worried it could take away a lot of the more nuanced learning about Black history and queer history,” senior James Davis said. “It’s not gonna be very helpful to our students.” Teachers shared similar fears. “I’m concerned that I would be arrested for what I’m teaching,” said social studies teacher Naomi Winkleman. With these new restrictions already impacting education, many are scared that the BOWSER Act will only make matters worse.

Alford teaches AP African American Studies at Jackson-Reed and believes that with this law passing, she could see the access to her class change completely. “[The Trump Administration] doesn’t want the nation’s capital to have a school system that they think is too radical,” she said. 

For many in DC, this bill feels like an attempt to erase the progress made on these issues in favor of a more conservative, federally controlled agenda. “I think this act is anti-immigrant anti-black, and anti ’radical’ politics,” said Alford.

Many students and teachers are unsure of what the Home Rule Act is or what would happen if it were overturned. Because of this, DC History Teachers Michael Petillo and Winkelman taught their students about Home Rule and the BOWSER Act in their classes, as they believe the topic is extremely important. 

Alford said she believes that “it is important to make sure that students understand what is happening,” and decided to integrate the topic into her lesson the day the act was proposed. Alford stressed that the lack of widespread knowledge about Home Rule underscores the need for greater education and engagement on this issue, especially as DC residents face a potentially significant loss of political power. 

Even with the latest changes, Trump has previously been in favor of overturning Home Rule. “We should govern the District of Columbia,” he said in an interview in February. Trump claimed local officials are failing to fix the major issues in DC and that the city has “too much crime, too much graffiti, [and] too many tents on the lawns.” Critics argue that Trump’s comments overlook the systemic issues in DC and fail to address the residents’ calls for more resources and local control. 

Despite growing fears about the impact of the BOWSER Act, students and teachers alike believe that raising awareness and taking action is key to pushing back against these restrictions. “Talking about it and bringing awareness will make the people in power aware of what we want and what we like,” junior Amanda Chau emphasized. Teachers stress the importance of collective action. Alford believes, “connecting yourself with local organizations that are already [advocating to keep Home Rule], and then asking them how you can help is crucial.”