U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) has introduced legislation aimed at ending the District of Columbia City Council’s practice of holding closed planning meetings, which followed President Trump’s recent executive order focused on improving crime rates and cleanliness in the city. The legislative package includes a Joint Resolution that would prohibit these secret meetings and a bill designed to address what Lee describes as an “emergency” loophole used by the Council to avoid Congressional oversight and public input. U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY) is leading similar efforts in the House.
“D.C.’s corrupt City Council is taking out its hatred for President Trump on the nation’s capital by holding secret meetings, breaking with longstanding rules,” said Senator Mike Lee. “Americans deserve transparency from Washington – not petty corruption and secret political vendettas. My legislation will ban the Council’s shady meetings and remove the loophole they’ve exploited to keep their citizens in the dark.”
Congresswoman Hageman stated, “The American people deserve transparency, not backroom deals and political scheming. The Council of the District of Columbia and Mayor attempting to eliminate and bypass open meeting laws is nothing more than a partisan tactic to hide their agenda and undermine President Trump’s efforts to restore safety and order in our nation’s capital. It is Congress’ duty to oversee D.C., and I will not sit back while D.C. officials plot in secret to defy federal authority and destroy public trust. This bill ensures D.C. officials are accountable to the public and Congress and can no longer hide behind closed-door meetings.”
According to Senator Lee’s office, both the Constitution—specifically Article I, Section 8—and existing D.C. law require congressional checks on local governance in Washington, D.C., granting Congress exclusive legislative authority over city affairs. Recent actions by the City Council have involved using emergency procedures that exempt certain measures from Congressional review, allowing them to conduct business outside standard transparency requirements.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of D.C. has also expressed concern about this approach, noting that public access to government meetings is essential for democracy.
Senator Lee’s proposed Joint Resolution seeks to reverse the City Council’s decision regarding closed sessions, while his accompanying bill aims to eliminate exemptions that currently permit such actions under claims of emergency status.
Further details can be found through coverage from The Washington Post.
