WMATA Funding: Board of Trade Urges D.C. to Protect Metro Investment

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WMATA Funding: Board of Trade Urges D.C. to Protect Metro Investment

Posted on by Board of Trade

About This Testimony:

The Greater Washington Board of Trade submitted testimony urging the D.C. Council to protect the District’s full commitment to WMATA funding in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

The testimony emphasizes that Metro is essential economic infrastructure for residents, workers, employers, visitors, and the District’s long-term competitiveness, and calls for sustained investment to build on recent service, safety, and reliability improvements.

Submitted Testimony: 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Councilmember Allen, thank you for the opportunity to submit this written testimony regarding funding for WMATA. My name is Jack McDougle, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. We represent hundreds of businesses and employers across the Washington metropolitan region. Our message is direct: Metro is not a budget line item. It is economic infrastructure as essential to the District’s future as its roads, its schools, and its public safety systems. It must be funded accordingly.

The Board of Trade has urged the Council to recognize that the District cannot cut its way to a stronger economy. Growth requires investment in the systems that make Washington, D.C. competitive. Metro sits at the center of that case.

Metro is the engine of the District’s economy.

Metro moves more than people; it enables the economic activity upon which the District’s tax base depends. Every day, Metro connects workers to employers, residents to opportunity, and visitors to the institutions that make Washington one of the world’s great cities.

For the more than 40 percent of D.C. households without a car, especially for residents east of the Anacostia River in Wards 7 and 8, Metro is not a convenience. It is the primary means of accessing jobs, healthcare, and education. Reducing Metro service is not an inconvenience for these residents. It is a barrier to economic participation. A growth strategy that leaves behind the residents most dependent on transit is not a growth strategy at all.

But Metro’s value extends far beyond those who depend on it most. A truly world-class transit system is one that every resident, regardless of income, neighborhood, or circumstance, chooses to ride because it is reliable, safe, and convenient. When a professional in Cleveland Park takes the Red Line instead of sitting in traffic on Connecticut Avenue, when a family in Petworth hops the Green Line to a Nationals game, when a Georgetown student commutes by bus rather than by car, Metro is doing exactly what great transit should do: giving everyone a better option. The goal is not a system that serves as a last resort for those with no alternative. It is a system that earns its riders across the full spectrum of the city and in doing so, reduces congestion, lowers emissions, and strengthens the case for sustained public investment.

For employers, Metro is workforce infrastructure. Law firms, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, retailers, and government contractors all depend on a system that reliably brings workers to their doors. As hybrid work has given workers greater flexibility about where they choose to live and work, transit reliability has become a decisive factor in recruitment and retention. When Metro underperforms, employers bear the cost in productivity, in narrowed labor pools, and in competitive disadvantage relative to peer cities.

Washington welcomed millions of visitors in past years, generating billions in economic activity and hundreds of millions in tax revenue. The vast majority rely on Metro to experience the city. A tourist from Reagan National who visits the Mall, the Zoo, and the Convention Center may take four or more Metro trips in a single day. Multiply that across millions of annual visitors, and the connection between Metro reliability and tourism revenue is unmistakable. Degraded service translates directly into a less attractive destination, and that damage compounds over time.

Station areas are also engines of commercial and residential development, generating property tax revenue that helps stabilize the District’s finances. Weakening Metro weakens this economic geography. The fiscal consequences extend well beyond the transit system itself.

The District must protect its funding commitment.

The District is one of three jurisdictions that fund WMATA through dedicated annual contributions. These are not discretionary line items. They are the foundation on which WMATA’s operating and capital plans are built. Reductions in the District’s contribution risk triggering service cuts, deferred maintenance, and capital delays, costs that would far exceed any near-term savings.

The Board of Trade strongly urges the Committee to protect the District’s full Metro funding commitment in the FY 2027 budget. We also encourage District leaders to champion a durable, dedicated regional funding mechanism in coordination with Maryland, Virginia, and Congress. The District should not solve this alone, but it must continue to lead.

Now is the moment to build on Metro’s progress.

WMATA has made meaningful strides. Ridership is recovering. On-time performance has improved. Safety investments are yielding results. The system is demonstrating that sustained, committed funding produces a better rider experience and a more reliable platform for the economic activity the District depends on.

This progress is not an argument for complacency. It is an argument for continuity. The gains of recent years were hard-won, and they are not yet locked in. Sustained investment is what converts improvement into permanence. The Board of Trade urges the Committee to recognize that this is precisely the moment to reinforce success, to give WMATA the stable funding foundation it needs to extend these gains, complete critical capital projects, and deliver the level of service that residents, workers, and visitors deserve.

Conclusion

Councilmember Allen, Metro is central to every goal the District has set for itself: growing its economy, closing opportunity gaps, attracting residents and employers, and competing as a world-class city. Sustained investment in Metro is not separate from the District’s fiscal strategy. It is one of the core commitments that makes that strategy achievable.

A city that moves well is a city that works. And a city that works is better positioned to grow its tax base, support its residents, and sustain its finances over the long term. This is one of the most consequential economic investments the District can make.

Thank you.

About the Board of Trade

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.  

Additional Advocacy Statements and Testimonies

Testimony: Support for Maryland’s Metro Funding Modification Act of 2026

Testimony: Board of Trade supports DMVMoves Task Force recommendations to secure sustainable funding for regional transit

Curiosity Is Competitive Advantage | WBJ Viewpoint

Posted on by Board of Trade

Curiosity is more than a mindset. It is a competitive advantage.

In his latest Washington Business Journal Viewpoint column, Jack McDougle, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, reflects on how moments of exploration, from the moon landing to the Artemis mission, show what is possible when curiosity is sustained through investment, talent, risk-taking, and collaboration.

For Greater Washington, that lesson is especially important. As the region continues to shift from a federal-centered economy to a more diversified, innovation-driven one, McDougle argues that our greatest assets, including world-class research institutions, leading universities, mission-driven talent, federal leadership, and a growing technology sector, must be better connected and supported across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

The column makes the case for reducing friction for businesses, strengthening access to capital, investing in research and commercialization, supporting reliable energy infrastructure, and building a talent pipeline that prepares people to solve real-world problems. With the right commitment, Greater Washington can turn curiosity into action and compete more effectively in the next era of innovation.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

ABOUT THE BOARD OF TRADE

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.  

READ MORE POLICY ISSUES AND TOPICS THE BOARD OF TRADE IS FOLLOWING

Net Zero Energy Building Code Deadline: Board of Trade Supports D.C. Mayor’s One-Year Extension

Posted on by Board of Trade

About This Testimony: 

The Board of Trade submitted written testimony before the D.C. Council’s Committee on Transportation and Environment, including the committee’s chair, Councilmember Charles Allen, regarding the one-year extension of the Net Zero Energy Building Code Deadline proposed by Mayor Muriel Bowser. The Board of Trade’s testimony supports Mayor Bowser’s proposed one-year extension of the Net Zero Energy Building Code deadline, framing it as a pragmatic pause rather than a retreat from climate goals. The testimony argues that more District-specific analysis is needed to understand the policy’s potential impacts on housing costs, energy bills, building feasibility, and electric grid readiness. It also raises concerns that accelerating building electrification without adequate infrastructure investment could create reliability challenges for the region. The Board urges the Council to use the additional year to develop impartial, independently verified data that can guide a more informed path forward.

Submitted Testimony: 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Chairperson Charles Allen and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on this important matter. 

I am writing in support of Mayor Bowser’s one-year extension of the Net Zero Energy Building Code deadline, as transmitted in the FY27 Budget Support Act, and I urge this Committee to allow that provision to advance through the markup process. 

A Pragmatic Pause Not a Retreat 

The Net Zero Energy requirement, which would ban natural gas in all new buildings and major renovations effective December 31, 2026, is sweeping policy with significant consequences for housing costs, energy reliability, and grid infrastructure. The Mayor’s request for a one-year enforcement delay is not opposition to the goal. It is a responsible call to build the evidentiary record this policy has never had: one that goes beyond BEPS compliance tracking to provide a clear, District-specific analysis of its costs, its feasibility, its impact on housing affordability and energy bills, and the readiness of our electric grid to absorb the load. That is a reasonable ask the Council should support. 

The DC Council Has Already Recognized the Burden of Compliance 

Earlier this year, the Council voted unanimously on legislation introduced by Councilmember Lewis George to exempt DC government buildings, projects, and contractors from the Net Zero mandate. That unanimous vote speaks for itself. Every member of this body recognized that the cost and feasibility burden of compliance is significant enough to shield the District’s own projects from it. If the mandate is workable, District government buildings should be subject to it. If they are not, we owe the private sector the same honest accounting before the deadline arrives. 

Grid Readiness Is Not a Minor Technical Detail 

Space heating is the single largest energy end-use in residential and commercial buildings in this region. Electrifying that load, even incrementally through new construction, will fundamentally change the demand profile on PEPCO’s distribution system, shifting the grid from its historical summer-peaking pattern to a new winter-peak one. The infrastructure investments needed to accommodate that shift have not been made, have not been funded, and are not reflected in DOEE’s implementation planning. 

The scale of what is being proposed should not be understated. During Winter Storm Fern, our regional gas system delivered 1.6 billion cubic feet of natural gas in a single day, the thermal equivalent of running 11 Calvert Cliffs nuclear reactors simultaneously. That capacity does not exist on the electric grid today, and PJM has documented significant and growing constraints on transmission capacity and generation adequacy across the region. Accelerating the electrification of building loads without commensurate grid investment does not advance our reliability goals. It threatens them. 

The Ask Is Simple 

Support the Mayor’s one-year extension. Use that year to do the work that should have been done before this deadline was set: rigorous, District-specific analysis of cost, feasibility, grid readiness, and housing impact. Good climate policy requires good data. What this moment calls for is impartial, independently verified data; analysis that all parties, including this Committee, can trust. We are committed to supporting that effort and stand ready to work with research partners to help produce it. The Council deserves more than dueling projections; it deserves a rigorous, credible foundation on which to make this decision. A one-year pause to get this right is not a step backward; it is the responsible path forward. 

Thank you. 

ABOUT THE BOARD OF TRADE

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.  

Additional Advocacy Statements and Testimonies

Letter of Support: Enable Enhanced Broadband Deployment for Improved Connectivity in Prince George’s County

Testimony: Board of Trade supports DMVMoves Task Force recommendations to secure sustainable funding for regional transit

Support for D.C. Mayor’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget

Posted on by Board of Trade

About This Testimony:

The Greater Washington Board of Trade submitted written testimony before the D.C Council’s Committee of the Whole regarding Mayor Bowser’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

The testimony emphasizes that Washington, D.C. is at a pivotal economic moment as shifting demand patterns, lower office utilization, slower population growth, and changes in the tax base create both fiscal pressure and an opportunity to redefine the District’s economic model. The Board of Trade urges the Council to focus on long-term growth, competitiveness, fiscal discipline, and policies that expand opportunity rather than relying on broad-based tax increases or short-term budget fixes.

The testimony also calls for a multi-year fiscal framework, a comprehensive review of the District’s competitiveness, streamlined permitting and approvals, reduced regulatory burdens, and stronger performance standards for core services such as public safety, transportation, permitting, and education.

Submitted Testimony:

DOWNLOAD HERE

Chairman Mendelson, members of the Council. My name is Jack McDougle, President and CEO. Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony on the Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget.

Established in 1889, the Greater Washington Board of Trade is the region’s longest-standing business organization. We convene leaders across business, government, academia, and the nonprofit sector to advance policies and partnerships that drive economic growth, innovation, and opportunity. We are committed to a fiscally sound, economically competitive, and forward-looking District of Columbia.

The budget before you arrives at a pivotal moment, not only because of the fiscal pressures it reflects, but because of the opportunity it presents. Washington, D.C. is undergoing a structural economic transition. Demand patterns are shifting, office utilization remains below prior levels, population growth has slowed, and the composition of the tax base is changing in real time. These dynamics are creating near-term fiscal strain and urgency for the District to redefine its economic model and sharpen its competitive position.

The District has the assets to compete at the highest level: a mission-driven workforce, proximity to federal policy, and a strong base in technology, professional services, and emerging industries. The question is not whether D.C. can grow; it’s whether policy choices will enable that growth or constrain it.

Too often, fiscal discussions focus on closing short-term gaps through one-time measures or incremental tax increases. That may balance a budget, but it does not position the city for long-term success. This moment calls for a different lens, one grounded in economic aspiration and competitiveness. Delivering for residents, particularly those most vulnerable, requires a growing economy that expands opportunity rather than redistributes within a constrained base.

At its core, the choice before the Council is straightforward: manage through extraction by raising costs on a constrained base or expand the base through growth by making D.C. more competitive.

Align Fiscal Strategy with Long-Term Growth

The District’s fiscal challenge is structural and will not be resolved through temporary measures. Recent budgets have relied on fund balance drawdowns and tax increases to sustain spending, neither a substitute for structural alignment. One provides one-time relief; the other increases the cost of living and doing business, often at the expense of the growth needed to sustain the very programs residents rely on.

A growth-oriented fiscal strategy requires discipline: aligning recurring expenditures with sustainable revenues while prioritizing investments that expand the economic base. We recommend adopting a multi-year fiscal framework establishing a clear path to structural balance, with defined milestones and transparency.

Make Competitiveness a Core Budget Principle

The District operates within a highly competitive regional and national landscape. D.C.’s tax burden is already high relative to neighboring jurisdictions and many peer cities causing households and businesses to increasingly explore other options. Additional increases would directly impact decisions about where to live, work, and invest.

The experience of other cities is instructive. In New York City, reliance on a narrow base of high-income taxpayers has increased revenue volatility. In Seattle, targeted business taxes are influencing long-term investment decisions. In San Francisco, cumulative high costs and regulatory friction have contributed to weaker demand and slower recovery. As the Brookings Institution Metro Monitor notes, the Washington region has lagged peer regions in delivering broadly shared growth, underscoring the need to expand the economic base, not simply redistribute within it.

We urge the Council to hold the line on new broad-based tax increases and undertake a comprehensive review of the District’s competitiveness across tax and regulatory policy. Competitiveness should be a standing principle in fiscal decision-making.

Remove Barriers to Growth

Expanding the tax base requires removing barriers to housing, business formation, and economic activity. Housing production is slowed by lengthy permitting timelines, uncertain entitlement processes, and high regulatory costs, limiting population growth and demand. Businesses face similar friction in starting, scaling, and operating in the District.

The District should prioritize:

  • Streamlined permitting and faster approvals
  • Greater predictability in zoning and entitlement
  • Reduction of unnecessary regulatory and cost burdens

These are high-impact, low-cost reforms that can materially improve the District’s growth trajectory and expand access to opportunity across communities.

Improve Core Service Performance

Competitiveness is not defined by cost alone; it is defined by performance. Public safety, transportation, permitting, and education shape how residents and businesses experience the city. When these systems underperform, they disproportionately affect communities that rely most on consistent, high-quality services.

The District should establish clear performance standards, measure and publicly report outcomes, and align budgets with demonstrated results. Improving service delivery strengthens both competitiveness and equity and is central to a growth strategy that works for all residents.

Conclusion: Define the Next Economy

The decisions made in this budget will shape the District’s economic trajectory for years to come. This is not simply about closing a fiscal gap, it’s about defining the next phase of D.C.’s economy.

We urge the Council to take the long view: focus on growth, strengthen competitiveness, and align fiscal policy with clear economic aspirations. A growing economy is the foundation for delivering sustained opportunity and support for all residents.

The Greater Washington Board of Trade stands ready to partner with the Council and the Executive in advancing this work. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this testimony. We welcome any questions.

ABOUT THE BOARD OF TRADE

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.  

Additional Advocacy Statements and Testimonies

Testimony to DC Council: Board of Trade Supports Bill for RFK Site Redevelopment

Letter of Support: ‘District of Columbia Fiscal Autonomy Act’ Advancing to House Floor

GWBOT April 2026 Newsletter

Posted on by Board of Trade

The Board of Trade remains focused on advancing the priorities that matter most to Greater Washington. This April, we had two newsletters that highlighted a variety of engagements we have had across Greater Washington with members and public officials, as well as meaningful updates on the priorities we are following in the region. We also have a variety of member news updates that showcase regional collaboration!

Highlights you will read about in our Early April Newsletter: 

  • Jack McDougle’s latest Viewpoint calls for reimagining K-12 education to better prepare students for the region’s innovation economy and long-term competitiveness.
  • The 106th Mid-Winter Dinner, presented by PNC Bank, brought together business, government, and civic leaders at the Washington National Cathedral for an evening celebrating regional relationships and collaboration.
  • A new Board of Trade article argues that Greater Washington needs a stronger mobility mindset and more coordinated transportation solutions to support growth and economic opportunity.
  • WMATA is marking 50 years of Metrorail service, recognizing Metro’s lasting role in keeping the region connected.
  • The newsletter also spotlights spring member programming, regional news, and member updates from organizations across Greater Washington.

Read Our Early April Newsletter

Highlights you will read about in our Late April Newsletter: 

  • The Board of Trade’s DC Election Watch series brought members together for timely conversations with Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie and Councilmember Brooke Pinto on the District’s future, including public safety, economic growth, affordability, and fiscal strength.
  • Jack McDougle’s latest Viewpoint explores how curiosity, long-term thinking, and stronger regional coordination can help Greater Washington compete in the next era of innovation.
  • The Spring Board of Directors meeting at Pepco’s downtown D.C. headquarters focused on mobility, energy, infrastructure, and the investments needed to support regional growth.
  • A new Board of Trade feature looks at how rising AI adoption is increasing pressure on energy systems and why energy reliability is becoming a growing business concern in Greater Washington.
  • The newsletter also highlights upcoming member programs, regional news, and member updates from organizations that are part of the Board of Trade.

Read Our Late April Newsletter

Councilmember McDuffie Shares His Vision for Washington DC

Posted on by Board of Trade

The Board of Trade has extended invitations to other candidates in these races and continues to welcome opportunities for members to hear directly from those seeking to lead and represent the District.

As part of the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s DC Election Watch series, presented in partnership with Holland & Knight, Board of Trade members gathered in downtown Washington for a candid conversation with mayoral candidate Kenyan McDuffie on the future of the District’s economy, business climate, and long-term competitiveness. The discussion was moderated by Janene Jackson, Executive Partner at Holland & Knight, and brought together regional leaders from across business, nonprofit, education, transportation, finance, and civic sectors. 

Throughout the discussion, McDuffie returned to a consistent theme: D.C. is at an inflection point. In his view, the city’s next mayor must focus on growing the economy, improving the experience of doing business, building more housing, strengthening public confidence, and positioning the District to compete more effectively within the region. 

For Board of Trade members, several themes stood out clearly from the conversation: 

Key takeaways from the discussion 

  • The economy, housing, and public safety were his top issues. McDuffie framed economic growth as the foundation for job creation, public safety, housing, and the city’s long-term fiscal health.  
  • He emphasized faster, more responsive government. He repeatedly pointed to permitting delays, regulatory burden, and slow agency processes as barriers to growth.  
  • He forcefully rejected the idea that pro-business and pro-equity are opposing values. He argued that stronger economic growth is what makes opportunity, public investment, and long-term inclusion possible.  
  • He tied housing production to competitiveness. His comments focused on the need to reduce the cost and time required to get housing built in the District.  
  • He treated Metro and regional mobility as essential to growth. He spoke about transportation not as a standalone issue, but as a core part of workforce access and economic performance. 

The conversation reflected many of the concerns business and civic leaders continue to raise about D.C.’s trajectory: whether the city can move faster, attract and retain investment, support employers already here, and create the conditions for long-term growth that benefits residents across all eight wards. 

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS DISCUSSION

Below are a few highlights from the conversation. 

Q&A Highlights 

What is the most pressing issue facing the city? 

McDuffie pointed first to the economy. He described the District as being at a turning point and said the central question for city leadership is how to grow the economy in a way that creates jobs, attracts business and residents, strengthens the tax base, and expands opportunity without leaving people behind. 

How does he view the relationship between business growth and equity? 

This was one of McDuffie’s most emphatic moments of the discussion. He pushed back hard on the idea that being aligned with business means being any less committed to fairness, opportunity, or progressive outcomes. Instead, he argued that the District needs leadership that understands how economic growth and inclusive growth work together. 

He pointed to his own record to make that case, citing work on direct cash assistance, baby bonds, affordable housing, and police accountability, while also making clear that he has never seen support for business and support for residents as opposing ideas. In his view, the city cannot build pathways to opportunity, strengthen public safety, or sustain critical public investments without a stronger economy and a broader base of business activity. 

More than anywhere else in the conversation, this was the moment where McDuffie’s personal conviction came through. He spoke not just as a policymaker, but as someone shaped by his own experience growing up in the District and seeing firsthand what happens when economic opportunity is out of reach. 

What does D.C. need to do to attract and retain business? 

McDuffie’s answer centered less on marketing and more on execution. He argued that the city’s best strategy is to better support the businesses already here by reducing friction, lowering the cost of doing business, and restoring confidence that government can move at the speed required for investment. He pointed in particular to permitting, agency responsiveness, and the use of technology to create a more efficient and predictable business environment. 

Where is the biggest opportunity to improve the business experience? 

He returned to both mindset and mechanics. Beyond process reform, McDuffie said D.C. government has to operate with a clearer understanding that business growth, job creation, and public revenues are interconnected. In his view, improving the business climate starts with leadership setting the tone that the District wants employers to succeed here and then backing that up with real operational changes. 

How does housing fit into economic competitiveness? 

McDuffie made the case that D.C. must build more housing and make it easier to do so. He focused on the cost and time tied to approvals, the cumulative effect of regulations and litigation, and the need to unlock stalled projects more quickly. He also stressed that the city needs housing across income levels so that workers can live closer to where they work and employers can compete for talent. 

What role does regional collaboration play? 

Speaking to a Board of Trade audience that thinks regionally, McDuffie argued that D.C., Maryland, and Virginia should spend less time treating growth as a zero-sum competition and more time focusing on shared economic wins. He pointed to workforce, transportation, and major development opportunities as areas where regional collaboration could better support long-term prosperity. 

How did he describe transportation and Metro’s role? 

McDuffie was clear that Metro remains essential to the District’s future economic growth and to the strength of the regional economy. He connected investment in transit to access, affordability, workforce mobility, and downtown recovery, while also noting the importance of continued improvements to bus service and the broader experience of moving people into and through the city. 

What did he say about downtown? 

In audience discussion, McDuffie agreed that downtown recovery requires more than office-to-residential conversion alone. He pointed to the need for a broader revitalization strategy that includes targeted investment, tenant attraction, stronger street-level experience, and a realistic understanding of how important downtown office activity remains to the District’s fiscal future. 

The Board of Trade appreciates Councilmember McDuffie for joining this important conversation and sharing his perspective with our members. We also thank Holland & Knight for hosting the discussion and for their partnership in the DC Election Watch series, which is designed to give business and civic leaders the opportunity to hear directly from candidates about the future of the District. 

Note: The Board of Trade has extended invitations to other candidates in these races and continues to welcome opportunities for members to hear directly from those seeking to lead and represent the District.

Councilmember Brooke Pinto on Public Safety, Economic Growth, and D.C.’s Federal Relationship

Posted on by Board of Trade

The Board of Trade has extended invitations to other candidates in these races and continues to welcome opportunities for members to hear directly from those seeking to lead and represent the District.

As part of the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s DC Election Watch series, members gathered for a candid conversation with Councilmember Brooke Pinto, who is running to represent the District in Congress.

For D.C., the congressional delegate seat has always carried unusual weight. Without full voting representation in Congress, the District relies on its delegate to help protect local priorities, build federal relationships, defend home rule, and pursue opportunities tied to the city’s unique role as the nation’s capital.

D.C. cannot afford to treat this seat as ceremonial. At a time when Congress continues to influence the District’s budget authority, public safety laws, courts, federal land use, Medicaid funding, and local autonomy, this election comes at a pivotal moment.

Pinto, who represents Ward 2 and chairs the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, made the case for a pragmatic, results-focused approach to the District’s next chapter.

“We can’t keep doing things the same way we’ve been doing it,” Pinto said. “Our city is in a very interesting moment.”

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

  • Pinto connected the delegate role to D.C.’s ability to protect itself and compete for the future. She described federal engagement as essential to defending home rule, protecting local decision-making, and pursuing opportunities around public safety, housing, land use, and economic development.
  • She framed public safety as foundational. As Judiciary chair, Pinto helped lead Secure D.C. and said the city must remain focused on prevention, accountability, and better coordination across government.
  • She argued that growth and equity are connected. Pinto said business growth, housing production, and a stable tax base are part of how D.C. funds schools, health care, public safety, housing, and the social safety net.
  • She called for a more predictable and competitive business climate. Pinto said D.C. must reduce barriers, avoid policies that weaken competitiveness, and be more intentional about attracting employers, residents, investment, and new industries.
  • She emphasized fiscal responsibility as part of sustaining public priorities. Pinto opposed the business activity tax and argued that D.C. needs durable revenue to support the services residents rely on.

Below are a few highlights from the conversation.

Q&A Highlights

Why is the congressional delegate role especially important right now?

Pinto said the District’s relationship with Congress has become more urgent, particularly as federal lawmakers have considered proposals affecting D.C.’s budget, public safety laws, Medicaid funding, local autonomy, and courts.

She said the delegate role requires daily relationship-building on the Hill, both to push back against harmful interference and to identify opportunities for federal partnership.

“What started as a defensive posture of, I need to go there to protect the District, remains true,” Pinto said. “But I also think there are so many exciting opportunities for the District if we lean in and get this relationship right.”

Pinto pointed to opportunities around federal investment, underused GSA buildings, National Park Service land, opportunity zones, housing, and economic development.

How would she approach working with Congress while protecting D.C.’s autonomy?

Pinto said D.C.’s representative must be able to work with members of both parties while remaining clear about the District’s interests and autonomy.

She described federal engagement not as a concession on home rule, but as a practical necessity for protecting the District’s budget, laws, courts, and long-term interests.

That could include pushing back against harmful federal intervention, advancing judicial nominations, strengthening public safety infrastructure, unlocking underused federal assets, supporting housing, and bringing new investment to the nation’s capital.

Pinto said success in the delegate role will not always mean public credit. Sometimes, she said, it will mean securing wins behind the scenes.

“If it supports our residents and our businesses, my name doesn’t need to be anywhere on it,” she said.

How does Pinto view the moment D.C. is in now?

Pinto described her time on the Council in phases: pandemic response, recovery, public safety, and now what she sees as a pivot toward growth.

She said the District cannot remain overly reliant on the federal government and must be more assertive about attracting employers, residents, entrepreneurs, new industries, and investment.

“The number one thing that businesses want is predictability,” Pinto said. “And we don’t have a lot of predictability in our market right now.”

For Pinto, that means D.C. must become easier to live in, work in, visit, and do business in.

“If we get it right, we’ll look back 10 years from now and say that was the moment in 2026 that we pivoted and stopped being shy about the fact that we are the best city in the world,” she said.

How does public safety fit into D.C.’s future?

Pinto described 2023 as a defining year for public safety and said crime shaped nearly every conversation she had with residents, employers, and community leaders.

As chair of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, Pinto helped lead Secure D.C., a major legislative package focused on prevention, accountability, and government coordination.

She said public safety must remain a top priority because the city cannot meet its broader goals if residents, workers, visitors, and businesses do not feel safe.

“Every person deserves to be safe. Period,” Pinto said.

How does she connect economic growth with support for residents?

One of Pinto’s clearest points was that D.C. should not treat economic growth and support for vulnerable residents as competing priorities.

Instead, she argued that the District’s ability to fund schools, housing, public safety, health care, and the social safety net depends on a strong and stable tax base.

“In order to support the people who are most vulnerable, excellent education, safety, and the social safety net that we are so proud of in D.C., we have to ensure that there’s a funding stream to do so,” Pinto said.

For Pinto, business growth, housing production, and competitiveness are not separate from equity. They are part of how the city sustains the services and opportunities residents rely on.

What did she say about taxes and competitiveness?

Asked about proposals such as a business activity tax, Pinto was direct.

“I do not support the business activity tax,” she said.

She said D.C. must be realistic about competition from other markets and the choices residents, employers, and investors can make when costs rise or the policy environment becomes less predictable.

Pinto framed the issue as one of fiscal sustainability: D.C. needs the revenue to invest in public priorities, and that requires policies that help retain and grow the people, businesses, and jobs that generate that revenue.

What policy priorities should business and civic leaders watch?

Pinto highlighted two major legislative packages.

The first, Prosper D.C., includes proposals focused on business growth, headquarters attraction, hiring D.C. residents, downtown conversions, university partnerships, tech innovation, and paid work opportunities for young people.

The second, the HOMES Act, focuses on making it easier and more affordable to build housing in the District. Pinto said her broader housing agenda also includes federal policy changes, including revisiting constraints that limit housing production and making better use of vacant office space.

Pinto encouraged Board of Trade members to engage early and constructively on both efforts.

For Board of Trade members, the conversation was a reminder that the delegate race is not ceremonial. It is about who can help protect D.C.’s autonomy, strengthen federal relationships, compete for investment, and advance the conditions that allow residents, businesses, and neighborhoods to thrive.

Note: The Board of Trade has extended invitations to other candidates in these races and continues to welcome opportunities for members to hear directly from those seeking to lead and represent the District.

More Regional Policy Discussion

Councilmember McDuffie Shares His Vision for Washington DC

A New Era of Collaboration: We Need the Big Three to Finally Bring the DMV Together | WBJ Viewpoint

Greater Washington Must Build the Nation’s Leading K-12 Talent Pipeline

Posted on by Board of Trade

This Washington Business Journal Viewpoint by Greater Washington Board of Trade President & CEO Jack McDougle argues that reimagining K-12 education is essential to the region’s long-term economic competitiveness and national security. As Greater Washington works to diversify beyond its reliance on the federal government, McDougle says schools must stop preparing students for an outdated economy and instead equip students with the foundational skills needed for a fast-changing, innovation-driven workforce. The piece frames talent as a form of economic infrastructure and warns that the gap between classroom learning and real-world demands has become too wide to ignore.

A central theme of McDougle’s viewpoint is that career readiness must begin in K-12, not wait until college. He calls for a shift from a “college for all” mindset to a broader “careers for all” approach, emphasizing critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity as essential competencies for every student. The article also highlights the growing importance of math, data literacy, and AI awareness, arguing that students should not just learn to use emerging technologies, but understand them well enough to apply them responsibly and creatively to real-world challenges.

As part of the Washington Business Journal Viewpoint series, the article concludes with a call for a regionwide strategy across D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to better connect classrooms with the needs of industry. McDougle points to experiential learning models like Odyssey of the Mind and Junior Achievement’s 3DE as examples of how students can build practical skills through problem-solving and teamwork. He then outlines three pillars for reform: introducing digital literacy early, involving employers in shaping curriculum, and advancing students based on demonstrated competency rather than seat time, positioning Greater Washington to build the nation’s strongest K-12 talent pipeline.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

ABOUT THE BOARD OF TRADE

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness.  

READ MORE POLICY ISSUES AND TOPICS THE BOARD OF TRADE IS FOLLOWING

Celebrating a Night of Impact at the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner

Posted on by Board of Trade

Hundreds of members, public officials, and regional leaders joined the Greater Washington Board of Trade on March 25 for the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner, presented by PNC, to share an evening grounded in connection, momentum, and purpose. 

Set within the breathtaking Washington National Cathedral, this year’s event blended elegance, tradition, and a collective commitment to the region’s future. Thanks to the support of our presenting sponsor, PNC, guests enjoyed a memorable evening featuring a gourmet dining experience from Ridgewells Catering and an atmosphere designed to spark meaningful conversations and lasting relationships. 

The Mid-Winter Dinner is more than a celebration; it is a cornerstone of regional leadership. For more than a century, this signature event has brought together changemakers to reflect, refocus, and recommit to advancing the Greater Washington region. In a moment when unity and cross-sector collaboration are more essential than ever, the evening underscored what is possible when our region comes together with clarity, purpose, and shared resolve. 

Let’s carry the spirit of Mid-Winter forward by strengthening connections, shaping policy, and building a stronger, more resilient region for all. 

View event photos from the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner here

View Step and Repeat photos from the 106th Mid-Winter Dinner here

We extend our sincere gratitude to all our sponsors for helping make this signature event truly unforgettable. 

 

America’s 250th Regional Resources and Festivities Guide

Posted on by Board of Trade

 

On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This historic milestone offers a moment to reflect on our shared past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead to the future we aspire to build for generations to come.

Across the Greater Washington region, the Semiquincentennial will also bring unique celebrations, events, and opportunities that highlight our nation’s history and showcase the strength, diversity, and innovation of our regional community.

Browse the resources and festivities below to get a full picture of how Greater Washington will mark this once-in-a-generation milestone.

Regional Resources & Festivities:

American250 

America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country. This multi-year effort, from now through July 4, 2026, is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.

Learn More

Trust for the National Mall

Inspired by this monumental moment, the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service are building legacy restoration projects, civic learning opportunities and volunteer programs on the National Mall and at the White House and President’s Park.

Learn More

Freedom250

Freedom 250 is a national, non-partisan organization helping lead the celebration of our Nation’s 250th birthday. Working together with the White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and the Commission, Freedom 250 serves as the official public-private partnership that connects, aligns, and amplifies national and local efforts to deliver the defining presidential moments of this anniversary year.

Learn More

Our Shared Future: 250 – Smithsonian

The Smithsonian will celebrate the nation’s successes, contemplate the consequences of our history, commemorate the sacrifices of those who have worked to uphold the nation’s ideals, and ask Americans to commit to advancing our democracy and preserving our shared future.

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DC 250

From monumental events and historic exhibitions to once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Washington, DC already has an incredible lineup of ways to honor 250 years of American independence in 2026. Stay up to date with special programming and need-to-know info so that you can make the most of this unforgettable milestone.

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VA 250

Established by the General Assembly in 2020, VA250 serves to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the Independence of the United States in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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Maryland 250 Commission

In observance of America’s 250th anniversary, Maryland is looking back at its state’s contributions to American history through the eyes and experiences of fellow Marylanders. This commemoration is for every one of us, from the Chesapeake Bay to the mountain peaks out west. Attend events, get involved, give back, and gain perspective.

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Mount Vernon 250

In spring 2026, Mount Vernon will unveil a revitalized George Washington exhibit. This updated space will focus on why Washington matters today and how the decisions he made in his lifetime continue to impact us in the 21st century.

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Daughters of the American Revolution

In celebration of our country’s 250th anniversary, the Daughters of the American Revolution are privileged to present this special event, which will underscore the immense contribution of women veterans and spotlight the impact they have made throughout our nation’s history.

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Freedom 250 Grand Prix

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., will recognize the historic milestone of America’s independence and celebrate the unparalleled tradition and legacy of America’s motorsports industry.

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About the Greater Washington Board of Trade

The Greater Washington Board of Trade, founded in 1889, is the region’s premier non-partisan business organization representing industry, nonprofits, universities, and government agencies. The Board of Trade addresses complex and always-evolving business concerns that stretch across the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia, with a priority focus on inclusive economic growth, improving the business climate, and enhancing the region’s economic competitiveness. Learn more about the Board of Trade and its mission at www.boardoftrade.org.

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