Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN)  introduced the Bracing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident Act, or the BOWSER Act,  which would end D.C.’s home rule. 

The Home Rule Act gives the District of Columbia autonomy from the federal government in governing its affairs, which include making its own laws, controlling tax revenue, and operating its police force. If the bill is passed, it would revoke home rule within one year. 

“The corruption, crime, and incompetence of the D.C. government has been an embarrassment to our nation’s capital for decades,” Lee said in a statement. “It is long past time that Congress restored the honor and integrity of George Washington to the beautiful city which bears his name.” 

Lee cited Councilman Trayon White’s federal bribery charges as evidence of the city’s long history of corruption, the city’s 2022 crime bill that implemented “soft-on-crime policies,” and allowing non-citizens to vote in local elections.

“The radically progressive regime of D.C. Mayor Bowser has left our nation’s Capital in crime-ridden shambles,” Ogles said in a statement. “Washington is now known for its homicides, rapes, drug overdoses, violence, theft, and homelessness. Bowser and her corrupt Washington City Council are incapable of managing the city. As such, it seems appropriate for Congress to reclaim its Constitutional authority and restore the nation’s Capital.”

Violent crime in Washington, D.C., has trended downward for several years. In 2024, the violent crime rate dropped by 35%, and the property crime rate dropped by 11%, according to Metropolitan Police data. 

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Lee first introduced the BOWSER Act last year, but it died in committee. During the last Congressional session, Republicans held majority control in the Senate with 49 seats but have since expanded their majority with 53 seats.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office for comment.