RECIPIENT OF THE DC BLACK MBA ASSOCIATION 2023 LEGACY AWARD
Serving Our Community in the DMV
Vol 60 No 23
March 20 - 26, 2025
PG County Spelling Bee! Page 12
During House Recess, Local Leaders Push Bipartisan Amendment that Preserves FY 2025 Budget
3District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton is working with congressional colleagues to get the federal employees terminated during their probationary periods reinstated with back pay, and help firefighters obtain unemployment benefits more easily. (Courtesy Photo)
No Contingency Plan in Place — Yet — As Families Fight for Another Day By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
When members of the House return from recess next week, they will have before them a bipartisan amendment out of the Senate that restores $1.1 billion of the District’s local dollars for the current fiscal year. However, it remains to be seen if House Republicans will ever let the amendment see the light of day. While D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) alluded to some contingency planning on Monday, she admitted not yet having explored the possibility of school weeks becoming shorter and other reductions in city operations. She opted instead to focus on her administration’s engage- 5DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson speaks on House bill that could cut $1 billion in DC budget outside of the U.S. Capitol.
2025 BUDGET Page 46 (WI File Photo/Ja’Mon Jackson)
Furloughed Federal Government Workers Continue to Seek Employment DOES, Delegate Norton Step In to Help By Sam P.K. Collins and James Wright WI Staff Writers Weeks after the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), under the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), furloughed federal contractors, and later provisional and fully onboarded employees, a federal judge has ques-
The Social Security Fairness Act, Signed by Biden, Kicks In
BLACK PRESS SUNDAY
Inaugural Service Reinforces the Role of Faith in Founding, Sustaining the Black Press
tioned the constitutionality of a process spearheaded by Elon Musk. However, furloughed federal government contractor Necilia Jones had already moved on, applying for more than 100 private-sector jobs. The search, she said, has bore some fruit, but not to the degree that she would like.
JOB FAIR Page 15
Local Residents Celebrate Social Security Payments
By Jada Ingleton WI Digital Equity Fellow
By James Wright WI Staff Writer
In culmination of the annual Black Press Week, Metropolitan A.M.E Church and Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes ignited the powers of alliance and advocacy with the inaugural Black Press Sunday on March 16. With inspirational speeches from faith, press and educational leaders, and the sanctuary 5Washington Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes packed with attendees, the church became a presents a gift to the Rev. William Lamar IV, pastor of space to celebrate the resilience of Black media, Metropolitan A.M.E. in Northwest, D.C. during the inaugural Black Press Sunday on March 16 . (Shevry
Ward 8 resident Vera Abbott has had a rich work history throughout her 91 years of life, having worked with the federal government, nonprofit organizations and side gigs such as selling real estate. While it is safe to say Abbott— who lives in the Bellevue neighborhood in Southwest— lives comfortably, she was delighted when notified about a bump
FAITH Page 42 Lassiter/The Washington Informer)
FAIRNESS ACT Page 47
Celebrating 60 years. Your credible and trusted source for Black news and information.
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
5 Ward 8 resident Vera Abbott is affected by the new Social Security Fairness Act. (WI File Photo/Robert R. Roberts)
MARCH 20 - 26, 2025 1