April 10, 2026
Dear Washingtonians,
Earlier today, I presented my Fiscal Year 2027 budget, Grow DC. For all the things we love about our city—our great schools, parks, transportation, arts, culture, and restaurants—they all require us to have robust revenues to make robust investments. For that, we need a pro-growth budget, and that is what we are delivering with Grow DC.
Before we presented the budget, we spent some time looking back on our city’s economy over the past 12 years. We did this for a few reasons – so that we can be clearheaded about where we are and what it will take to keep growing, and also because it’s important to dispel any sort of notion that the District is broke. We’re not broke. We may need to be more strategic about growth than we were 12 years ago, but we still have a strong financial foundation and we’re still growing.
We’ve been through three distinct periods over the past 12 years: What I call the pre-COVID Good Ol’ Days – a raging economy, everything happening all at once. Growth was stable and predictable. Then, of course, there was COVID, there was a shutdown. We banded together. We saved lives, we saved businesses. We got a huge amount of federal dollars that allowed us to do things we thought we couldn't do. We experienced some whiplash, but we were still growing.
And now there are these years – we’re solidly post-COVID. We have used all of those federal dollars. We are adjusting to what DOGE has done to our workforce and to our commercial corridors. And once again, we are navigating it together. And we’re still growing. But now, we need to drive growth, it doesn’t just happen. And that’s what this budget is about – driving growth.
I’m proud that we were able to put together a budget that prioritizes funding for education and public safety, preserving core city services, protecting robust health care for DC residents, and growing the District’s economy.
Learn more about Grow DC at budget.dc.gov.
Sincerely,
  Find the Mayor's Fiscal Year 2027 budget presentation HERE, and find the 12-year lookback presentation HERE.
As DC Public Schools (DCPS) heads into Spring Break, a reminder to parents and families that the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is hosting a full week of fun, engaging activities for young residents from Saturday, April 11 through Saturday, April 18.
DPR Spring Break will feature a wide range of free events across the District to keep kids and teens engaged in positive activities while they are on break, including outdoor games, youth talent shows, horse riding, lifeguard training, ice skating instruction at the brand-new Fort Dupont Ice Arena, and much more. View a full list of events and register today at dprspringbreak.splashthat.com.
And mark your calendars: DCPS students return to school on Monday, April 20.
Mark your calendars for one of DC’s most popular family-friendly events of the year! The Department of Public Works will host the District’s annual Truck Touch on Saturday, May 2.
Approximately 30 vehicles from DC government agencies will allow kids and adults alike to hop in and learn more about the dump trucks, police cruisers, fire engines, and medical units that keep our city moving.
Attendees can also watch local students take the wheel as they navigate a dynamic track in electric vehicles they’ve engineered themselves — showcasing innovation and energy-conscious design in action.
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When: Saturday, May 2 at 8:00 a.m.
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Get a front-row seat for the EV time trials from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by wheel-to-wheel racing kicking off at 12:30 p.m.
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Where: RFK Stadium Lot 8, 2400 E Capitol Street SE
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Learn more at dpw.dc.gov/trucktouch
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This weekend, the National Cherry Blossom Festival closes out with two free events. On Saturday, April 11, the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade brings floats, marching bands, and amazing live performances to Constitution Avenue. And on Sunday, April 12, Jazz and Blossoms takes over Franklin Park with live music, creative workshops, roller skating, and more.
National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
Jazz and Blossoms
Gather your friends and family and get out for a lovely spring weekend in the most beautiful city in the world!
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