Trump Vowed to Take Over D.C., House Republicans Might Try to Make It a Reality

Rep. Andrew Clyde told NOTUS he’s introducing a bill next Congress to change the Home Rule Act. It wouldn’t be the city’s first power struggle with federal lawmakers.

Andrew Clyde AP- 	23207020888717
Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via AP

Georgia Rep. Andrew Clyde is already signaling that at least a faction of the House Republican conference in the upcoming Congress will try to yank power away from the District of Columbia.

The congressman told NOTUS he’s putting together legislation to “return exclusive legislative authority” to Congress. That would shrink the already limited power of the district to govern itself under Home Rule, a 1973 law that lets residents elect their own council members and mayor but still requires Congress to review legislation and to approve budgets.

“We have a lot of constitutional responsibilities. This is one of them. And we need to take it seriously,” Clyde told NOTUS about making and enforcing laws in D.C.