ATU Denounces House CR Funding Bill Slashing DC Funding To Public Transit, Critical Services

Union Calls on Senate to Pass Clean Continuing Resolution Bill

Silver Spring, MD - Denouncing the House passed Continuing Resolution (CR) bill that would cut more than $1 billion to the District of Columbia budget, including funding for WMATA, the DC's public transit system, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the largest union representing public transit workers in the U.S., including more than 15,000 DC area workers, calls on Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) without the DC cuts to avoid 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. "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 passed House legislation, requiring the District of Columbia to cut more $1 billion, including significant funding for WMATA, would lead to mass layoffs of transit workers, service cuts and possible fare hikes. It also would impact education, public safety, water, housing, and other critical services that serve residents of the District of Columbia and the surrounding region.