Alsobrooks, who represents Maryland, said she introduced the amendment because of Maryland workers in the city. “When Republicans attack DC – they are also attacking: Our Maryland firefighters that bravely work for DC Fire and EMS, our Maryland teachers that work in DC public schools, [and] our Metro that gets Maryland commuters where they need to be. That’s why I filed this amendment,” she said in a post to X.

A Republican-backed spending bill passed last weekend would cut more than $1 billion in D.C. public services. The proposal has sparked worries the district will have to lay off police officers or other workers if it becomes law.

Democrats have responded by attempting to pass a different continuing resolution that would keep Washington’s budget intact. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) praised the move. “That would give us the ability to fix this for D.C.,” he said, adding he was a “hell no” on the bill.

Washington’s Mayor Muriel Bowser is awaiting whatever decisions Congress makes as a government shutdown looms if an agreement cannot be made. “We remain hopeful that our partners in Congress will get it fixed this week,” a Bowser spokesperson told the Washington Post.

At least one Republican senator has said they were surprised by the cuts to D.C.’s budget in the spending bill.

“That was not a provision that was in the Senate bill, or anything that we advocated for. It came as a surprise to me, and explains why the mayor has called me,” Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told the Huffington Post.

Democrats have said they are opposed to the GOP version of the bill, though Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has signaled he’s willing to support a way out of a government shutdown.

“While the Republican bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much much worse. For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option,” he said. “It is not a clean CR. It is deeply partisan. It doesn’t address far too many of this country’s needs, but I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power in a government shutdown is a far worse option.”

STOPGAP FUNDING BILL WOULD CUT DC BUDGET BY $1 BILLION

Many in Washington were surprised to hear the GOP spending proposal included cuts to the city.

“As disconcerting as it is, I’m still talking to a lot of people on the Hill who are saying that this information is new to them, or trying to point back to the House and saying ‘we don’t know why the House did this,’” Washington at-large Councilman Robert C. White Jr. reportedly noted.

“Anyone who doesn’t know about this — it’s willful,” he added.