Standing in a hotel suite overlooking the $480 million Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke candidly about the challenges and milestones of her decade in office. Though she resists the idea that she’s focused on her legacy, the choice of interview location—a literal and symbolic connection between long-divided neighborhoods—suggests otherwise.
Now in her third term, Bowser faces a dramatically shifting economic landscape, brought on in part by federal job cuts under President Trump. Her proposed 2026 budget aims to stimulate growth by attracting businesses with tax incentives, while making difficult cuts to safety-net programs.
“We have to be able to pay for [services],” Bowser said. “The better question is: how do we make programs more efficient and focus on core activities that attract people and businesses to the city?”
Bowser’s team recently released a ten-year progress report, highlighting accomplishments including $1.5 billion in affordable housing investments and a 61% drop in family homelessness. She credits consistent funding and public-private partnerships for those gains. “That’s a playbook,” she said. “We know what works in this city.”
With D.C.’s downtown still recovering from the pandemic and federal workforce attrition, Bowser is pushing to redevelop the RFK Stadium site—long a personal priority. “This one has taken the longest, has been the hardest,” she said. “People want our home team back.”
She avoids political labels, brushing aside the idea that her agenda needs to be more overtly progressive. “I don’t know what that means,” Bowser said. “We’ve focused on how to grow this city in an inclusive way.”
Despite economic headwinds and political friction with the federal government, Bowser remains determined to shape D.C.’s future. “There’s no Democratic or Republican way to pick up the trash,” she said. “We’re practical. We’re here to get things done.” With two years left in her term—and rumors swirling about a possible fourth run – Bowser appears focused on finishing strong while keeping the door open to what may come next.
