washington d.c news

Simeon Kakpovi, a senior threat intelligence analyst at Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Center, recently presented his cybersecurity game KC7 to experts at Microsoft's Innovation & Policy Center in Washington. The 29-year-old Benin native originally pursued medicine before discovering his passion for cybersecurity during college at Howard University. After working at Lockheed Martin and earning a master's degree from Cambridge University, Kakpovi now leads a team tracking Iranian cyber threats at Microsoft while advocating for increased diversity in the cybersecurity field through KC7 and mentorship programs. Through KC7, which simulates the cybersecurity process, Kakpovi aims to teach students to become "cyber detectives" while encouraging more people of color to enter the technology field.

Former Ward 8 Council member Trayon White, who was expelled earlier this year following an FBI arrest, is now running in a special election to reclaim his seat despite facing federal bribery charges. During a recent candidate forum hosted by the Ward 8 Democrats, White defended his right to due process while competitors Mike Austin, Sheila Bunn, and Salim Adofo emphasized the need for ethical leadership and questioned White's suitability for office. In a subsequent straw poll, White placed third behind Austin and Bunn, with many critics arguing his reelection would further harm Ward 8 and potentially subject him to another expulsion, while the special election winner will serve until January 2029.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton has introduced the District of Columbia Zoning Commission Home Rule Act, which aims to eliminate two federally appointed positions on D.C.'s five-member Zoning Commission. The bill would allow the mayor, with D.C. Council approval, to appoint all five Commission members instead of maintaining federal representation through the Architect of the Capitol and National Park Service director. Norton argues that land use decisions should be locally controlled, while emphasizing that federal interests would remain protected through existing federal law and the National Capital Planning Commission. This legislation is part of Norton's broader "Free and Equal D.C." initiative to increase self-governance for the District's 670,000 residents.

President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, carried out by B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles, significantly damaging these installations. The Pentagon stated the strikes were in response to threats from Iran and its regional proxies, though Congress and many top intelligence officials were not briefed beforehand. Iran retaliated with missile strikes against Israel, while Yemen formally entered the conflict by declaring war on both the United States and Israel. The international community has largely condemned the U.S. action, with responses ranging from Russia's accusation of "gross violation of international law" to the UN Secretary-General's warning of "catastrophic consequences."

The Supreme Court has granted the Trump administration's request to continue deporting immigrants to third countries without prior notice or due process, overturning a lower court injunction. This ruling allows deportations to potentially dangerous countries as long as receiving governments agree to accept the immigrants, despite international treaty obligations under the UN Convention Against Torture. Justice Sotomayor, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, issued a strong dissent expressing concerns about government misconduct and the risk of torture or death for deportees. The case involved several plaintiffs, including a Guatemalan man who was deported without due process despite having protection from removal.

The District of Columbia's Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against nonprofit organization Women in H.E.E.L.S. and its former CEO Ikeia Hardy for allegedly misappropriating over $250,000 in government funds. The nonprofit had received up to $814,000 annually in fiscal years 2022 and 2023 to operate a Cure the Streets violence prevention site in Congress Heights as part of the city's gun violence reduction initiative. According to the lawsuit, Hardy allegedly transferred over $57,000 of grant money to her personal account and failed to return more than $213,000 in unspent or undocumented funds after their agreement was terminated. After discovering financial irregularities in 2023, the Office of the Attorney General suspended and terminated the organization's grant, and is now seeking to recover all misused funds and bar Hardy from nonprofit leadership positions in DC.

The 2025 Trustees Report reveals significant financial challenges for Social Security and Medicare programs, with trust fund depletion dates approaching faster than previously projected. The Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund is expected to pay full benefits only until 2033, after which beneficiaries would receive just 77% of scheduled payments, while the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund for Medicare Part A faces depletion in 2033, three years earlier than forecast. Several factors contributed to this worsening outlook, including the Social Security Fairness Act that increased benefit costs, delayed recovery in fertility rates, and reduced projected payroll tax revenues. The Trustees emphasize that without legislative action, both programs face significant benefit reductions in the coming decade, though the Disability Insurance Trust Fund remains stable through at least 2099.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, along with more than 80 national organizations, has sent a letter to congressional leaders demanding oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. The coalition accuses the division, now led by Trump appointee Harmeet Dhillon, of abandoning its mandate to protect civil rights in favor of advancing President Trump's political agenda. According to the letter, the division has dramatically shifted its mission statements to prioritize Trump's executive orders over federal civil rights laws, while approximately 70% of the division's legal staff have resigned or been reassigned. The organizations warn these changes could cause "irreparable harm" to civil rights protections for decades and urge Congress to take immediate action.

Washington D.C.'s LGBTQ+ community reflects on Pride Month by highlighting values of resilience, authenticity, and community activism throughout the city's queer history. Local leaders like Philip Pannell, executive director of Anacostia Coordinating Council, and Keyonna Jones, founder of Congress Heights Arts and Culture Center, have contributed to D.C.'s inclusive culture through political activism and artistic expression respectively. Howard University marked a significant milestone as the site of the first LGBTQ+ organization at any historically Black college when Lambda Student Alliance was established in 1979, setting the foundation for current campus organizations like C.A.S.C.A.D.E. The recent WorldPride festivities in D.C. celebrated these historical achievements while demonstrating how LGBTQ+ advocacy continues to intersect with broader civil rights movements.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has announced that all eligible states and U.S. territories have agreed to a $7.4 billion national settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family over their role in the opioid crisis. The District of Columbia will receive more than $21 million over two years, with approximately $19.58 million coming in the first payment. This settlement, the largest to date involving companies connected to the opioid epidemic, will permanently end the Sacklers' involvement with Purdue and prevent them from selling opioids in the U.S. The funds will be allocated for prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts as the District faces ongoing challenges with opioid-related deaths.

President Donald Trump is considering direct military action against Iran, with Washington D.C. residents potentially facing significant domestic consequences similar to previous U.S. military campaigns. Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has requested U.S. support, while Trump has urged Iranian civilians to evacuate Tehran and suggested targeting the fortified Fordow nuclear facility. Historical patterns indicate that military conflicts abroad have profound economic, housing, and social impacts on the nation's capital, including increased defense spending, housing shortages, and tax burdens, despite D.C. residents having no voting representation in Congress. Previous wars have also made Washington a center for anti-war protests and created unique security and psychological burdens for its residents.

District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb has issued a warning about deceptive tactics used by third-party energy companies who pressure residents to switch from regulated providers like Pepco and Washington Gas. These companies employ various strategies including door-to-door visits, phone calls, and community event appearances, often misrepresenting themselves as employees of regulated utilities or government officials. The Attorney General's office emphasizes that residents who stay with regulated utilities receive lower "standard offer of service" rates compared to the higher long-term rates charged by third-party providers after promotional periods expire. Amid ongoing struggles with high utility costs for many D.C. households, authorities are urging residents to report deceptive practices and carefully evaluate any offers to switch energy providers.

Juneteenth celebrations across Washington D.C. are occurring amid significant political challenges, including congressional infringement on District budget autonomy and concerns about Mayor Bowser's relationship with former President Trump. Multiple community-organized events are planned, including "Juneteenth: Celebrate FREEDOM" at the African-American Civil War Memorial Plaza, the "Juneteenth Jubilee: Freedom & Unity Walk" organized by the Anacostia Renaissance Kollective, and Ward 7's first District-approved Juneteenth Parade along Pennsylvania Avenue East. These celebrations face obstacles such as House Republicans freezing $1.1 billion in funding, which delayed the reopening of the African American Civil War Museum, and nationwide rollbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that have jeopardized Juneteenth programming in multiple states. Despite these challenges, D.C. residents and community organizers emphasize using Juneteenth to discuss freedom's meaning, promote civic engagement, and strengthen local community bonds.

Sheila Bunn, a lifelong Ward 8 resident with 30 years of public service experience, is campaigning for the vacant Ward 8 D.C. Council seat in the July 15 special election. Bunn's political background includes serving as chief of staff for Councilmember Vincent Gray, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Gray, and 16 years as a high-level staffer for D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Her campaign priorities include increasing access to healthy foods, addressing truancy, supporting small businesses, and creating safer communities, with a particular emphasis on youth involvement in policy decisions. Bunn credits her father, the late community leader James Bunn, as her inspiration for public service and community advocacy.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore, amid speculation of presidential ambitions, recently addressed South Carolina Democrats at the Blue Palmetto Dinner while also meeting with advisors to former Presidents Obama and Biden. During his speech, Moore emphasized that Democrats must become "the party of action" with urgency rather than bureaucracy, even suggesting that they could learn from Donald Trump's impatience while condemning his policies. Despite Moore's public denials about presidential aspirations, his speaking engagements in key primary states and national campaign efforts have fueled speculation among political strategists and commentators that he may be positioning himself for a 2028 presidential run as part of a wide-open field of potential Democratic candidates.

D.C. Pepco customers are facing a 17.7% monthly bill increase of $20.81 effective June 1, mandated by the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia. The price hike stems from unexpected capacity price increases at PJM Interconnection's energy auction due to expanding demand and insufficient renewable energy sources. In response, PJM has implemented reforms approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure more supply sources and improve renewable energy accessibility. Meanwhile, Pepco offers various assistance programs for affected customers, and solar energy alternatives like DOEE's Solar for All program can provide significant savings despite some seniors' skepticism about adopting such solutions.

Chef Rahman "Rock" Harper's Queen Mother's Kitchen, a restaurant specializing in high-quality chicken sandwiches, has been nominated for the "Hottest Sandwich Spot of the Year" category in the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington's annual RAMMY awards. Located in Arlington's National Landing Water Park, the restaurant has gained popularity for its signature sandwiches, particularly the Queen Mother's Classic Chicken Sandwich made with brined chicken breast cooked in duck fat and served with Mother Sauce and dill pickles on a toasted brioche bun. Harper, a nationally recognized chef who won Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" competition during its third season, named the restaurant as a tribute to his mother, grandmother, and Black women in general. The RAMMY Awards Gala will take place on August 3 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest D.C.

For the first time in its 116-year history, the NAACP has decided not to invite the sitting president, Donald Trump, to its national convention taking place July 9-13. NAACP President Derrick Johnson emphasized this decision stems from Trump's attacks on civil rights rather than partisan politics, citing the organization's history of inviting both Republican and Democratic presidents despite policy disagreements. The decision follows Trump's controversial appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists' 2024 convention, where he made racially charged comments about Vice President Kamala Harris and immigrants. The NAACP has also recently sued the Department of Education for withholding funds from schools maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.