Washington, D.C. is grappling with a significant budget crisis, facing a $1.1 billion shortfall after the House of Representatives left town without passing a funding fix. In response, Mayor Bowser has implemented a hiring freeze, suspended overtime pay, and initiated planning for potential layoffs and furloughs within the government. To mitigate the impacts of these cuts, Bowser has proposed a 6% increase in the city budget, invoking a 2009 law to help address the fiscal gap. As frustration mounts among residents and local officials over the stalled Congressional action, concerns grow about the future of critical services in the city.