Here’s how D.C. solved the billion-dollar budget problem Congress created

On October 22, 2025, Executive Director Yesim Sayin was quoted by WAMU:

Yesim Sayin, a budget expert and the head of the D.C. Policy Center, says the city has this flexibility because the funds are to be used for “special purposes,” such as paying for unemployment insurance claims or major technology projects. So long as D.C. could justify these accounts would broadly be used to meet the intention behind their creation—say, funding services over at the D.C. Jail—officials could spend money without worrying about the congressional limits.

“Because the Congress is not monitoring those things, they have their own appropriations authority,” Sayin said, meaning the city can spend the funds automatically without asking Congress for permission.

Author

D.C. Policy Center

Established in 2016, the D.C. Policy Center is a non-partisan research and policy organization committed to advancing policies for a strong and vibrant economy in the District of Columbia. Through rigorous research and collaboration, the D.C. Policy Center develops and tests policy ideas, disseminates its findings, and engages in constructive dialogue and debate.

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Here’s how D.C. solved the billion-dollar budget problem Congress created | WAMU

Author

D.C. Policy Center

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