Federal Policy, Local Impact - ��Ӱ��

Beyond ‘Packing the Courthouse’: D.C.’s long road to self-governance

Ellen Tannor — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 19:31:10 +0000

As D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb had his first hearing in a lawsuit he brought against the Trump administration’s deployment of the National Guard troops, Free DC mobilized residents to the fight with a “Pack the Court” demonstration that underscored the urgency of local autonomy and D.C.’s journey to self-governance.��

With rallies and events planned until the end of the year, organizers��are building stronger coalitions��and amping up urgency in��D.C.’s fight for��self-governance.  ��

Just as��Free DC, a grassroots movement that supports local self-determination,��mobilized residents��for the��“Pack the Court” demonstration��at the Oct. 24 hearing,��the group’s leaders��are training, protesting,��building��resistance movements and��strategic coalitions across state lines to underscore the urgency of local autonomy��and D.C.’s tumultuous road��to self-governance. ��

Free DC��Executive Director Keya Chatterjee��said��the increasing consolidation of power and systemic erosion of democratic norms��has the country making a democratic U-turn.��

Free DC protestor outside of U.S. district court. (Ellen Tannor)

“The U.S. is��a��backsliding democracy transitioning to a competitive authoritarian state,”��Chatterjee��said.��

With a��five-year campaign��strategy��for self-rule, Chatterjee said��the goal is to be strategic in every cycle of attack from this administration.��

She characterized economic attacks, mass firings, National Guard deployment, local funding freezes, and legislative attacks as some examples of irreparable harm the federal government is causing residents. ��

Chatterjee said,��with every attack on rights and freedoms,��Free DC��gets stronger—growing��at double the speed than��in��years past—to��build unity,��

“Every effective movement is unified,”��Chatterjee said.��

Admitting she is clear-eyed about the challenges, Chatterjee said they have a 7.5% chance of success relying on the traditional electoral process, but by building a unified civil resistance movement, organizers believe they can increase the odds to about 50/50.��

“Our end goal is to have equal representation under the law for the people of D.C.,” she said.

Pack the Court��Protest��

Free DC organizers��say they have��a sense of urgency, not seen before,��as they describe a democracy that is slipping away to authoritarian rule. ��

Packing the U.S. District Courthouse with D.C. residents was just one of the many protests Free DC said they have planned to express the importance of the moment and the commitment to sustained activism. 

Line of citizens and Free DC protestors waiting to enter the district court. (Ellen Tannor)

The courthouse protest started as a short walk from Constitution Avenue and rallied in front of the U.S. District Court, where they sang songs, chanted and eventually lined up to enter the court hearing.��

Capitol Hill resident Randy Martin said Washingtonians are not accepting this situation, calling it “crazy” and adding that people will continue to show up. ��

Katie Henke, a Hill East resident who works in international development, said she has worked in authoritarian countries in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe and the military presence on D.C. streets reminded her of those regimes. ��

 “I don’t want to see that in our country, and so I want to stand up for my neighbors,” Henke said. ��

The legal battle in the courthouse ��

Inside the courtroom,��in��,��D.C.��Attorney General Brian Schwalb�� that��the deployment��of the National Guard��undermined the District’s right to self-govern. He equated the deployment to an illegal occupation that is harmful to the city and its residents.  ��

Schwalb said that the troops were not trained to do the job of law enforcement and made residents less safe. ��

“Today we again made clear: the U.S. military should not be policing American citizens on American soil,” Schwalb said after the hearing. “It does not make us safer to have out-of-state military—many of whom are not from here and do not know our communities—policing our streets, driving military vehicles, armed with rifles and carrying handcuffs.” ��

Linda Alexander, a protester who sat through the hearings, said she wanted to be fair and hear both sides.  Alexander said even though she felt safer in Ward 7 since the deployment of troops, she recognized that it’s time for them to go home and spend time with their family. ��

D.C. resident Linda Alexander, who sat through the D.C. attorney general hearing over the deployment of the National Guard.

Eric Hamilton, an attorney representing the Trump administration, argued that the case should be dismissed since the president has broad authorities. ��

D.C. is a municipal corporation with limited��authority,��Hamilton��said,��criticizing��the��attorney general��for not aligning with the president’s position.��

Accusing Schwalb of political posturing, Hamilton said, “D.C. is not a state, however much the attorney general wants to pretend it is, and he is doing damage to the District.” ��

��Judge Jia��M.��Cobb��is expected to make a ruling��later this year.��

��The voices of the movement ��

��Law student Byron Brooks said he came to the hearing to see how the process unfolds. ��

“We’re in an unprecedented time of democracy, or dictatorship, depending how it’s viewed.  So, today’s case will definitely set the precedence on where we are headed as a nation,” Brooks said.��

Matt Gordon said he saw the issue as a constitutional crisis. He said, as a veteran who has served his country, he sees the deployment as an illegal abuse of power.  ��

Henke described the impact on her neighbors: “Poor kids are going to and from school, passing these guards with rifles bigger than their torsos. It’s disgusting. This is what you see in authoritarian countries, and I don’t want to see that in ours.” ��

“This is a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act,” said Gordon, a self-described angry veteran. “It’s one step closer towards an authoritarian takeover of this country.”  ��

The Posse Comitatus Act generally prohibits the use of military for domestic law enforcement, with a few exceptions, such as protecting federal property and quelling domestic violence. ��

After the hearing 

At a press briefing following the hearing, Schwalb said, “When this lawsuit was filed several weeks ago, I said it was D.C. today. It was going to be other cities shortly. In fact, that is exactly what has happened. This is fundamentally un-American.” ��

Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s press briefing after the District Court hearing on Oct 24.

During the press briefing, Henke chanted and heckled Hamilton while holding a Free DC sign prominently in the backdrop. Chants echoed off the courthouse to disrupt Hamilton’s briefing, as he referred to protestors as a “woke mob.”

Hamilton sparred with disruptive protestors but was ultimately drowned out by chanting and walked away. ��

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The intensity and frequency of��Free DC��activities��have��surged, partnering with Virginia and Maryland affiliates to build local momentum for self-governance.  ��

Chatterjee��said that, since��D.C.��lacks��representation,��Free DC��must reach out to states to build political pressure and create a network of resistance.��

Chatterjee said she wants the local D.C. government to stop complying with federal demands and legitimizing illegal actions that harm D.C. residents. ��She said D.C. local government must be on “Team Democracy” and prioritize protecting the community over appeasing the regime.��

“When you give an authoritarian regime what they want, they just take more,”��Chatterjee said.��

With events planned in each ward, every month until the end of the year, organizers are conducting extensive and sustained training programs and building coalitions for mass non-cooperation strategies to fundamentally reimagine democracy in the nation’s capital.��

“Whether it takes ten months or ten years, we must be absolutely resolute in our fight,” said Rig, who used the moniker U.S. Army Overlord.

Eric Hamilton, a Trump administration attorney, was being heckled by Free DC protestors after hearing in the U.S. District Court. (Ellen Tannor)

“As the government wants to escalate its attacks against the District of Columbia, we will clearly have to take more measures to withhold our support,” Henke said.

The resistance continues and prioritizes joy, community resilience, non-violent strategies, and alternative support systems as the way forward, Chatterjee said. ��

“There’s no oppressed people in the history of the world that have ever succeeded without joy,”��she said.��

“Justice looks like the military being off our streets and one step closer toward statehood,” Gordon said.��

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Organizations planned Dia de los Muertos celebration without concern for ICE

Kordell Martin — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 18:37:27 +0000

Sugar skulls, candles, and marigolds lined D.C.’s waterfront as crowds gathered at its Dia de los Muertos celebration Saturday, while other cities chose to opt out.

Fiesta DC and the Mexican Cultural Institute assisted organizers but left planning for possible Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations to The Wharf, despite concerns over mass arrests of participants by organizers of other festivals nationwide.

Mexican flag held by a participant of the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at The Wharf (Kordell Martin)

Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, is a Mexican holiday celebrated Nov. 1 and 2 to honor deceased loved ones through altar and cemetery gatherings. Officials across the United States feared that those celebrating the holiday would be intentionally targeted by immigration enforcement.

As a result, some cities decided to cancel their Dia de los Muertos festivals, finding that the expansion of immigration enforcement could trigger mass arrests at the large gatherings.

Increased arrests recently in Long Beach, California, Decatur, Georgia and Santa Barbara, California caused officials to call off their Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Celebrations in the California cities of Senoma and Half Moon Bay were limited.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pleaded in an October letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to pause immigration enforcement operations during Halloween weekend.

Noem, responding to Pritzker’s letter, declined.

“No, we’re absolutely not willing to put on pause any work that we will do to keep communities safe,” Noem said during a press conference.

Noem said operations would continue to bring “criminals” to justice, ensuring the safety of children during the holiday season.

Singer Roberto Aparicio performs during The Wharf’s Dia de los Muertos celebration Saturday (Kordell Martin)

The Wharf hosted the Dia de los Muertos celebration in partnership with Modelo, Fiesta DC, Giant, and the Mexican Cultural Institute. Fundación Elena and De Colores, nonprofits that work to improve the quality of life in Latino communities, also collaborated with The Wharf in organizing.

Services provided by the Mexican Cultural Institute included face painting, sugar skull decorating, and live music. Latin Celtic band La Unica, Sol y Rumba, DJ Danny, and singer Roberto Aparicio performed as residents enjoyed Mexican festivities.

Concerns over ICE attending the Saturday celebration had stemmed from extensive immigration enforcement operations in businesses, restaurants and bars across the D.C. metro area. Community churches and organizations have also had an uptick in their members or employees detained by ICE.

Organizations’ concern

In D.C., Daniela Madrid, event logistics member at the Mexican Cultural Institute, said that she did not hear any concerns about possible ICE arrests before planning the Saturday celebration.

She told ��Ӱ�� the institution’s responsibilities included supplying traditional references from other Mexican festivals, highlighting that they were not the main planners for event specifics, such as security.

Madrid said that event planning was left up to The Wharf.

Wharf organizers did not respond to requests for comment.

Participants carry a float during the Dia de los Muertos Celebration at The Wharf (Kordell Martin)

Fiesta DC president Maria Patricia Corrales said that the structure of the event was directed by The Wharf, while her organization contributed altars and the locations of musicians. The organization also provided catrinas, the skeletal figures that have become a symbol of Día de Muertos celebrations.

Corrales told ��Ӱ�� that despite public fears, the celebration was a success.

“The public might have expressed concerns,” Corrales said. “We did not come out with any issues.”

Corrales said that organizations cannot always wage the continuation of celebrations due to the presence of law enforcement.

“You can never expect something unexpected,” Corrales said. “We announce and hope people come. People want to come out and enjoy themselves.”

Participant safety

Waterfront resident Andrew Braner said that he felt safe attending the celebration as a regular. He said that he did think about the possibility of immigration enforcement coming to the event while attending.

“I live here and I feel safe all the time,” Braner said. “I was actually wondering if ICE would show up.”

Braner, who has celebrated past Dia de los Muertos in Mexico, said that though the D.C. celebration was “small beans” compared to those in the Latin country, it is still essential to curate in a diverse space.

“The world is [in D.C.] and there’s a lot of cultures here,” Braner said. “So, when you can celebrate Dia de los Muertos as a tradition, it just encourages the community to come together.”

Participants dance in Mexican clothing at The Wharf’s Dia de los Muertos celebration Saturday (Kordell Martin)

Alex McKenna, an attendee at the Dia de Los Muertos celebration, said it’s important to continue cultural celebrations around the U.S. to avoid negative stereotyping.

He told ��Ӱ�� this was his first time attending a Dia de los Muertos celebration.

“I think it shares with people something that’s important to them,” McKenna said. “And it’s important that we see other people for what’s important to them and understand that about others before we say something negative about it ourselves.”

McKenna said though he could not comment on the concerns of ICE conducting arrests at Dia de los Muertos celebrations, he felt safe when attending Saturday. He said he felt safe because of the celebration’s security presence.

“It’s amazing,” McKenna said. “I mean, the night is alive, and they’ve done such a great job, I think, of bringing everyone together and showing their culture.”

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This Southwest museum is not shutting down

Kordell Martin — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:28:56 +0000

D.C. tourists are adding a Southwest museum to their travel itineraries while the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art remain temporarily closed due to the federal government shutdown.

The D.C. Rubell Museum is a Southwest institution that will welcome guests while Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art remain closed as the third week of the shutdown starts.

The Rubell continues to operate blocks away from the National Mall because it is not federally funded, allowing residents and guests to view and learn new viewpoints on art, history and culture.

A closure sign hangs on the gate outside a Smithsonian Institution building. (Kordell Martin)

Smithsonian shutdown

The Smithsonian Institution released a statement two days after the government shutdown Oct. 1, informing guests that museums would use prior-year funds to remain open to the public for one week.

As the shutdown lingered, the Smithsonian closed the doors of all its museums Oct. 12.

The National Gallery of Art closed Oct. 4 due to the pause in federal funding.

This leaves D.C. tourists and residents without informative exhibits found at museums such as the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of American History.

The National Gallery of Art closed its doors Oct. 4. (Kordell Martin)

School trips to the Smithsonian are starting to look different as students can’t access museums that provide valuable information about science, history, and art.

Tiffany Jones, a Virginia math teacher, said that her seventh grade students would not be visiting exhibits that would support their curriculum on the school’s annual field trip to the Smithsonian.

The Northern Virginia school instead planned an advisory day filled with scavenger hunts around the National Mall.

The field trip is the only opportunity in the academic year for the school to bring students to the Smithsonian.

The National Museum of American History (Kordell Martin)

Jones said that the Smithsonian’s closure has changed her students’ opportunity.

“So, their experience is not rich. It’s not as in-depth,” Jones said. “We don’t have a lot of discussions about the random things that you see.”

Jones told ��Ӱ�� the Smithsonian’s closure limits the students and the experience the school wanted them to have.

Jones said also that the hardest thing outside of planning around the closure is finding accommodations for students, like restrooms and water fountains.

A day planned to expand on the students’ Civil Rights Movement unit by visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture has turned into one of Jones warning students not to feed pigeons.

The National Air and Space Museum (Kordell Martin)

The Smithsonian Institution’s closure could have an impact on the experience of tourists who scheduled visits to D.C. months in advance.

Alex Leveto and Jenna Christopher, Houston tourists, said that it “definitely sucks” the government shutdown is impacting the Smithsonian.

Christopher said she and Leveto are fans of science and were looking forward to visiting the National Air and Space Museum.

“Definitely wish we could have seen them,” Leveto said. “It’s been years since we’ve been here, so we’re still enjoying walking around in general.”

The pair said they had discussed leaving D.C. because of the shutdown, ultimately staying to avoid rescheduling another flight.

Rubell remains open

Basil Kincaid’s ‘Guardian Spider and Shadow Snake’ (Kordell Martin)

The Rubell Museum is a non-profit organization continuing to operate during the shutdown.

The museum sits at 65 I St SW, blocks away from the National Mall and the Waterfront Metro Station.

While free for D.C. residents, it charges $15 for admission and is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Read more about the museum’s admissions on its website,

This differs from the Smithsonian, which is free to everyone and usually is open every day except for Christmas.

The Rubell, which opened in 2022, currently is showcasing the Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift and Material Witness exhibits, in addition to its regular collection.

The Rubell Museum could not comment on operations before deadline.

Sari Ylipulli, a Finnish tourist, was encouraged by a friend to visit the Rubell Museum for a day visit.

Henry Taylor’s ‘Ride the White Horse Together’ (Kordell Martin)

Ylipulli said that she originally planned to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture to expand her interest in the history of Black Americans.

“I was especially interested in the African American History Museum,” Ylipulli said. “So, very sad that it’s not open.”

Ylipulli said that, while she was in the museum, she was amazed at how beautiful and touching the artwork was.

Sculptures and wall pieces made of wood, pans, and steel line the walls of the Rubell Museum.

The Finnish tourist said that she was “exactly in the right place” in a room furnished with artwork by artists Josh Faught and Henry Taylor.

“It’s amazing, amazing what they can do,” Ylipulli said

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This last Black institution along the Anacostia is navigating development with intention

Ellen Tannor — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 15:21:49 +0000

Seafarers Yacht Club, one of the last historic black institutions along the Anacostia River, isn’t worried that it’s wedged between two multi-billion-dollar development projects—in fact, club leadership thinks it might benefit. ��

Once threatened by development, the club’s recent historic designation now offers it protection and potential partnerships as the 11th Street Bridge Park and the reimagined Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium development transforms the Anacostia waterfront.��

In a prime, almost hidden corner of Boathouse Row, Seafarers was founded by mariner and educator Lewis Thomas Green in 1945 with the support of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. ��At a time when boat clubs were exclusively “white-only,” Seafarers stood as a haven for Black boaters and a symbol of resilience. ��

Seafarers Yacht Club informational sign (Ellen Tannor)

“It’s not about nostalgia. It’s about protecting what still serves the people,” said Roger Legerwood, Seafarers Yacht Club historian and 30-year member.

Historical designation offers legal protections��

Seafarers gained its historic designation in 2022, sponsored by the D.C. Office of Planning—shepherding in new protections against emerging developments.��

“We’re not scared, we’re historic. We’re in partnership with the D.C. government,” said Seafarers Yacht Club Commodore Tony Ford. ��

Seafarers falls within Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which requires federal projects to assess and mitigate adverse effects on historic properties. ��

“If the review identifies potential adverse effects, the parties will coordinate to resolve them,” the D.C. Office of Planning said.��

Legerwood began documenting the history of the club about 25 years ago, almost by accident. ��He said he found the history fascinating, and his chronicled account eventually became the basis for filing historic preservation.��

“They just can’t run through here without checking,” Legerwood said. “When we see or hear of threats, we look at it as an opportunity to engage.” ��

Seafarers Yacht Club business manager working on upgrading the dock. (Ellen Tannor)

The designation opens new doors for grant funding and restoration support. Seafarers partnered with the 11th Street Bridge Park team—the project to transform the abandoned 11th Street Bridge piers into a state-of-the-art park—to ensure the club’s legacy is cemented in the future of the waterfront. ��

“Connecting to the river has always been one of our key goals,” said Scott Kratz, director of the Bridge Park project.�� “Seafarers started the Anacostia River Cleanup in 1985.�� They’ve been critical to restoring and healing the river.”��

Kratz’s team secured a U.S. Coast Guard permit to maintain the navigational envelope—increasing visibility for organizations like Seafarers. ��The new park will include an environmental education center, which could feature Seafarers’ history and community programming. ��

Ford, who has led the club for seven years, said he views the Bridge Park partnership as a model for respectful collaboration. ��

“We’re already partners,” Ford said. “We offer free boat rides during cherry blossom week and talk about the history. ��It’s not adversarial; it’s community.”��

Ford is less certain about the RFK Stadium development, a $3-billion project expected to generate thousands of jobs and billions in tax revenue. ��

RFK signage on the overpass adjacent to Seafarers Yacht Club (Ellen Tannor)

“We haven’t had a mutually respectful conversation with those developers,” Ford said. The club’s relationship is only through the mayor’s office, he said.��

Over the years, Ford said developers have used intimidation tactics. In one case, Ford said a developer sent an email alluding that Seafarer would sell its property before even having a conversation. Ford said he is used to the tactics—and some have already begun.

“Forming, storming, norming and performing, that’s how we figure out where we fit in,” Ford said. He added this is a teambuilding process that goes through different stages to understand their relationship and roles in the development projects.��

Despite concerns, Ford said he remains optimistic.��

“We are the oldest African American boat club in the country—not DC—in the country,” Ford said. ��

Seafarers started the Anacostia River clean up, and we will continue to do what serves the community, Ford said.��

It’s about the community��

For longtime D.C. resident and recreational fisherman Derick Jones, this is personal.�� Fishing on the Anacostia River for over 20 years, Jones acknowledged that the RFK development is good for the city.��

Derick Jones, recreational fisherman at his favorite spot near Seafarers Yacht Club along the Anacostia River (Ellen Tannor)

“I hope they don’t mess it up—a lot of young brothers come here to fish instead of getting in trouble,” Jones said.��

Jones urged developers to protect community spaces.��

“This is my fishing spot,” Jones said while laughing. “This is my peace of mind.” ��

Seafarers Business Manager Captain Anthony Hood echoed the sentiment.��

“We are a working club. Members bring their skills—woodwork, law, electrical—to keep things going.” ��

Hood joined the club in 2020 after his wife passed. He said she always had encouraged him to buy a boat. ��

“It has occupied my time and helped me heal—now I’m part of something bigger,” Hood said.��

As the business manager for Seafarers, Hood focuses on infrastructure and restoration efforts. ��Partnered with Anacostia Riverkeeper and the Council of Governments, Seafarer received a grant to remove abandoned boats as part of an initiative for cleaner waterways, Hood said.��

With work-in-progress projects all around the club, Hood said the infrastructure needs attention. ��Members are replacing old dock woods themselves, but with development funds, Hood said. ��

The Seafarers Yacht Club (Ellen Tannor)

“We could rebuild the docks, the rail system and even the clubhouse,” Hood said.��

Legerwood said the club wants to amplify Seafarers’ legacy and make boating more affordable and inclusive. ��

“Inclusivity was our original mission,” Legerwood said. “Mr. Green built boats by hand but couldn’t find a place to dock because of his race—that’s why this place exist.”��

The D.C. Preservation League, which maintains the city’s historic inventory, said it added Seafarers to its public database after the designation and is now part of the public record. ��

D.C. Preservation League said, “That visibility matters.” ��

“We’re not just a boating club.” said Legerwood. “We’re a living archive of Black maritime history.”��

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Ahead of looming shutdown, VOA fights to be heard

Terrance Williams — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:45:12 +0000

For the first time in 83 years, The Voice of America, the public broadcast news service that spread American soft power throughout the world, went dark on March 14. Since then, a small group of its journalists have been locked in a court battle with the Trump Administration to get back on the air. Today, employees who opted into the administration’s ‘Deferred Resignation Program’ receive their final day of pay and benefits, and a judge decides what happens next. For Patsy Widakuswara, she just wants to be a journalist again.

“I never wanted to be an activist,” Widakuswara said Friday at American University. She and Jessica Jerreat, Press Freedom editor at the VOA, are two of the plaintiffs in the case seeking to keep the VOA’s funding.

On Friday the two spoke about press freedom, censorship, and their ongoing case against the Trump administration at American University as part of the Centennial Speaker Series, hosted by The Eagle. The School of Communication’s Associate Journalism Division Director, Terry Bryant, moderated the discussion. The lawsuit, Widakuswara v. Lake, is awaiting further action from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Judge Royce Lamberth issued an injunction to restore employees and contractors to their positions, which the government is fighting.

Voice of America White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara (Júlia Riera)

The lawsuit is being brought by Widakuswara and six other journalists, as well as Reporters Without Borders, and a group of unions representing federal workers. A second suit by the director of the VOA was filed five days later. Both challenge the authority of the executive to unilaterally fire all the agencies’ workers and contractors without approval of the U.S. Agency for Global Media Board of Directors. The board had been previously disbanded by the president. So far, the courts have issued injunctions, delaying administration actions, stating that the government failed to ‘provide a single sentence of explanation for the colossal changes that have occurred at USAGM since March 15, 2025’.

The US Agency for Global Media is the parent company of not just VOA, but also Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Middle East Broadcasting Network, and the Open Technology Fund. The networks boast a combined reach of 427 million listeners worldwide in 64 languages.

That was in February. Today, the agency has gone from over 3700 articles and almost 2400 broadcast hours per week down to just 108 articles and 7.5 broadcast hours in 4 languages.

Friday’s conversation was a plea for support. As the September 30 deadline approaches, there is no clear answer on what happens next, and the stakes are high. Numerous diplomats and former VOA employees say that the loss of the broadcaster is a win for America’s adversaries. The Trump administration describes the broadcaster as a propaganda arm of the Democratic party.

The VOA is a unique organization within the federal government. It began as a CIA project to project American ideals throughout the world. It was later transferred to the State Department, which is where the Trump administration intends for it to return. The VOA charter, which was established in the 1994 International Broadcasting Act, ensures by law that the organization remains neutral in the context of American politics, and stands immune to coercion by any party or politician. It’s this ‘firewall’ that Widakuswara and Jerreat are trying to uphold.

According to the Trump administration, the VOA has strayed from that mission.

Widakuswara, the former White House Bureau chief for the VOA, pressed the Prime Minister of Ireland in a March 13 press conference about the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza. President Trump responded by asking, “Who are you with?” Soon after, VOA advocates say the administration launched a targeted campaign against the agency. Through the combined efforts of the Department of Government Efficiency, the CEO of USAGM, Kathy Lake, VOA’s parent company, and a March 15 Executive Order, the agency has been hollowed out.

In an article released by the White House the following day, titled ‘The Voice of Radical America’, the administration highlighted . The order, the statement said, ensures ‘that taxpayers are no longer on the hook for radical propaganda’.

The agency has faced accusations of bias and pressure from other administrations and news outlets in the past. In 2001, the agency received pushback from the Bush administration over their intent to broadcast a phone call from a known terrorist after the 9/11 terror attacks.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative leaning think tank responsible for ‘Project 2025’, a conservative playbook for Trump’s second term, wrote in 2020 that ‘New leadership is exactly what Voice of America needs’. The article also accused the organization of liberal bias.

During the Biden administration, The National Review made claims of pro-Islamic bias when VOA journalists were instructed not to call Hamas a terrorist group unless quoting statements. In 2022, the agency was also sued by the conservative American Accountability Foundation for what they called, ‘Pro-Islamic bias in its’ Persian reporting’.

Voice of America Press Freedom Editor Jessica Jerreat

Jerreat and Widakuswara rejected accusations of bias in Friday’s conversation.

“Our journalism stands for itself,” Jerreat said. “We know the parameters of our beats, we’re not critical. We’re factual, and try to keep the stronger emotions out of our work.”

Jerreat said images of Tiananmen Square drove her to be a journalist with a focus on press freedom. She believes Trump is exhibiting the same authoritarian tactics she has studied for years. “I have the privilege to stand up and do this for my colleagues who don’t have that space,” she said.

“I don’t think about it,” Widakuswara said, when asked about the future. “I just try to take it one day at a time. I still have to feed my family.”

Instead, she thinks about the employees they are fighting to protect, many of whom may be forced to return to oppressive regimes if they are not able to keep their visas. She also thinks about her son, a high school senior.

“I want my son to live in a democracy. This is me doing my part to defend that,” she said.

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National Guard wants to help; ANCs not so sure

Ellen Tannor — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:21:14 +0000

On a quiet stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue near the Potomac Avenue Metro Station, Hill East resident Starynee Adams watched her two children giddily waive to the National Guard troops across the street picking up trash.

Initially deployed to combat crime, the National Guard is now turning to advisory neighborhood commissions seeking a community to-do list; not everyone is on board.

Picking up trash is not the reason they came to D.C., but it’s now part of the Guard’s new mission.

Mural of late Congressman John Lewis in Hill East. (Ellen Tannor)

With crime in D.C. at a 30-year low, President Trump in August declared a crime emergency invoking the Home Rule Act to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department and activate the National Guard from D.C. and six Republican-led states.�� Just weeks into the deployment, the National Guard is seeking beautification projects across the city—a move that has sparked mixed reactions from caution to collaboration.�� Leaders and residents are divided on whether to collaborate or stand firm on the Guard’s departure.

“If you want people to do beautification projects, why not rehire the people that were just fired from the National Park Service,” Adams said.

A shift in direction happened Sept. 8 when D.C. National Guard Director Marcus Hunt sent a District-wide letter to advisory neighborhood commissioners “requesting help identifying projects on neighborhood beautification efforts.”

Hunt, a native Washingtonian and Ward 8 resident, appealed to commissioners with a sense of partnership and urged leaders to work “alongside” the National Guards as a community.

Pennsylvania Ave heading towards Capitol Hill. (Ellen Tannor)

The response has been mixed. Earlier this month, 93 different ANCs penned a published in The 51^st opposing the deployment of National Guard troops in D.C. “It is a direct attack on the freedom and independence every community deserves,” the commissioners wrote.

Commissioners in Ward 8 were among the first to reject Hunt’s request to help, voting unanimously to refuse the offer. “We don’t need the National Guard in the community to help with beautification” they said.

Ward 1 ANC leaders also declined to respond, calling the offer “uncomfortable and concerning.”

However, Ward 7 Commissioner John Adams said, “We invite and embrace” the help.

ANC 6B, which represents Capitol Hill and Hill East is still pondering the decision.

David Sobelsohn, ANC 6B secretary, said that ANC Commissioner Edward Ryder considered holding an emergency meeting on the request but ultimately decided to wait until the full body meeting on Oct. 15 when the public can weigh in.

The troops will be here until December, so we have time to make a “measured decision,” Sobelsohn said.

Sobelsohn said some constituents would like to see the ANCs work more collaboratively with the National Guard. ��He said his commission conferred with the Home Rule Caucus, an informal group of roughly 75 ANCs that advocates for D.C. self-governance.

Sobelsohn said the alternative responses falls into three camps: reject the offer outright, find collaborative ways to work with the troops or ignore the offer and don’t respond. “One and three are essentially the same,” he added.

While all ANCs agree in principle that the troops should go home, Sobelsohn said there is a school of thought that says, “if they are going to wander the streets aimlessly, we should let them do something.”

Former federal contractor Ryan Donaldson, who said he has witnessed crime first-hand, deemed the National Guard as a necessary deterrent and supports its presence for both safety and beautification efforts.

Donaldson, a Capitol Hill resident, said as a federal city, D.C. represents the pride of the nation and “we need to put our best foot forward.”

Donaldson said he has had his bike stolen a few times, witnessed a resident assaulted by a homeless person and even found a discarded handgun at a D.C. Metro station.�� “So yes, I support more police and National Guard presence—not just for me but for everyone who lives and works here,” he said.

However, Adams said she sees the beautification efforts as a political move.

“If this was really about crime, we’d see the National Guard in high-crime areas—not picking up trash near $800,000 homes and monuments,” she said. “This feels more like a test of presidential power than a public safety mission.”

National Guards on patrol in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. (Ellen Tannor)

Adams, a remote tech employee, added, “We don’t need troops to beautify D.C.—this money could be going toward schools and school programs, instead it’s being spent on a military presence we didn’t ask for.”

Pentagon civilian employee Mark T., who declined to provide his last name due to privacy concerns, has lived on Capitol Hill for 20 years; he offered what he described as a pragmatic approach. “If the situation has been imposed on us, let’s make the best of it,” he said.

If handled correctly and the contributions are meaningful, Mark T. said it won’t legitimize federal overreach but rather help the community. “If not, we run the risk of sounding like hyper-liberal complainers,” he added.

Home Rule Caucus Chairman Miguel Trindade Deramo coordinates advocacy across the commissions and urged the National Guard to remain focused on its mission of “readiness to respond to security threats.”

On Sept. 18, the Home Rule Caucus published a to Hunt thanking him for his offer but expressing “collective disapproval.” The letter cited a misuse of federal resources and warned of a troubling precedent.

Trindade Deramo told ��Ӱ�� there is a lot of work to be done around the city, noting the inappropriate use of the Guards.

“They are trained soldiers; we don’t need them picking up trash and laying mulch, Trindade Deramo said.” The federal government needed to properly fund the National Park Services and the other agencies trained for these matters, he said.

Trindade Deramo said he didn’t fault wards who accepted the National Guard’s offer but stressed the principle of local autonomy outweighs the short-term service they provide.

Restaurant in Adam’s Hill East neighborhood. (Ellen Tannor)

Adams admits her children are amused and curious about the Guards posted in the neighborhood, but she cautioned this political environment is a slippery slope.

“Leaders should be standing up and pushing back and not playing along to make the troops look more useful,” she said.

D.C. leaders are navigating a delicate dance asserting local authority while responding to federal pressure and oversight.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and Council Chair Phil Mendelson spent five hours testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Sept. 18.�� While Bowser did not push back on the National Guard, she emphasized public safety must be managed locally.

“Let us do our job,” she told committee members.

Even with differing opinions on beautification projects, there is consensus that the Guards must be treated respectfully. Adams said, “They didn’t ask for this mission, but they are here to serve.”�� Mark T. added “Let’s treat them with the pride and decorum the uniform deserves.”

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