D.C. Home Rule

The people who live in Washington, D.C. are just like people who live in any other state – veterans, nurses, teachers, neighbors. But because D.C. is not legally recognized as a state, the president and Congress have extraordinary power to micromanage our local affairs if they choose to use this undemocratic power. The Trump Administration's unprecedented siege shows just how dangerous it is for D.C. to continue to be denied statehood, and it shows how people’s tax dollars from around the country are used to target the nation’s capital. The ACLU works to protect everyone’s rights and liberties in our nation’s capital while advocating for D.C. Statehood. When we protect D.C., we protect democracy.

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The people who live in Washington, D.C. are just like people who live in any other state – veterans, nurses, teachers, neighbors. But because D.C. is not legally recognized as a state, the president and Congress have extraordinary power to micromanage our local affairs if they choose to use this undemocratic power.  The D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973 passed as a compromise between D.C. residents who wanted full democratic rights and members of Congress who wanted to maintain some power over D.C. and its historically Black population.   The law allowed D.C. residents to elect a local government to oversee the day-to-day functioning of the District, while Congress maintained power over local laws, the local budget, and other matters.  We are seeing the consequences of this limited compromise.  The Trump Administration's unprecedented siege shows just how dangerous it is for D.C. to continue to be denied statehood, and it shows how people’s tax dollars from around the country are used to target the nation’s capital. The ACLU works to protect everyone’s rights and liberties in our nation’s capital while advocating for D.C. Statehood. When we protect D.C., we protect democracy.

Fighting Trump’s D.C. Power Grab

Trump's decision to deploy the D.C. National Guard is baseless political exploitation.
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The Latest

Press Release
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The ACLU and Affiliates Nationwide Underscore Urgent Need for National Guard to Leave the Nation’s Capital

In a letter addressed to the American public, ACLU and affiliates warn prolonged deployments carry nationwide costs and risk normalizing military presence on American streets
Issue Areas: D.C. Home Rule, D.C. Statehood, Criminal Justice Reform
Resource
National guard agents stationed in front of the U.S. capitol

Holding the National Guard Accountable

For more than a year, ACLU-D.C. has been fighting back against the unprecedented deployment of National Guard troops in our neighborhoods and the threats it poses to civil rights, civil liberties, and D.C.’s right to self-government. From defending people whose rights have been violated by Guard members to challenging federal overreach and advocating for D.C. statehood, ACLU-D.C. is working to ensure that federal power does not go unchecked.
Podcast
A more perfect district podcast. Episode 05: D.C.'s fight for self-government

D.C.’s Fight for Self-Government

In this episode, we discuss the impact of D.C. Home Rule and the future of D.C. statehood. Host Alicia Yass, Policy Advocacy Director, is joined by Melissa Wasser, Sr. Policy Counsel, to discuss the history of Home Rule and how protecting Home Rule is protecting democracy. Later, Yass is joined by Keya Chatterjee, Executive Director of Free DC. Here they discuss why D.C. needs Statehood, how Congress has a history of deciding the fate of D.C. and its residents, and the journey for equal representation for D.C. residents.
Press Release
A collage featuring hands holding microphones, symbolizing media and press coverage. In the background, there is a large government building and a fragment of the U.S. Constitution with the words “We the People.” The design uses a red and beige color scheme with layered geometric shapes.

ACLU-D.C. Statement on H.R. 5525

Congressional Bill Aimed at Repealing Local D.C. Traffic Laws
Issue Areas: D.C. Home Rule