Get to know the House members leading the attacks on DC
The 119th Congress has introduced more than 60 bills attacking DC. Some of these bills represent potential massive interference in DC’s safety, lawmaking, and power. We know that all of these bills are part of the Trump administration’s attempt to take over DC — because taking over the capital city is a way for any dictator to achieve their agenda faster and more easily.
A relatively small number of Representatives are leading these attacks. All of them are up for re-election this November. Ahead of the midterm elections we want to take a closer look at the members who are not just supporting but actually introducing and co-sponsoring attacks on DC most frequently and fervently. Here are the members to know.
Rep. Clay Higgins
Represents: Louisiana’s 3rd
Record: Has cosponsored more DC attack bills than any other sitting member of Congress. Introduced H.R. 2056 to undo DC’s sanctuary city status and H.R. 5143 to allow the kind of high-speed police chase that killed Nolberto Meza. Of the 11 DC attack bills that have come to the floor this Congress, he has voted YEA on all 11 of them.
Rep. Andrew Clyde
Represents: Georgia’s 9th
Record: Clyde was eager to undermine DC Home Rule long before the current Congress’s efforts. In 2022, Clyde repeatedly called for the DC Home Rule Act to be repealed, and since then he has actively sought to oppose legislation passed by DC Council and has co-sponsored a number of DC attack bills, and introduced four attack bills in this Congress alone including:
H.R. 1774 to withhold certain federal funds from DC until “Black Lives Matter” was removed from 16th Street as well as all DC government websites and documents;
H.R. 4788 to allow Members of Congress’ concealed carry permits in other states to be sufficient for them to conceal carry their guns in DC;
H.R. 5107, the CLEAN DC Act, which would repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022; and
H.R. 6372 which would repeal the DC Human Rights Sanctuary Amendment Act of 2022 that protects reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy.
Of the 11 DC attack bills that have come to the floor this Congress, he has voted YEA on all 11 of them.
Rep. Brandon Gill
Represents: Texas’s 26th
Record: Led the attempt to disapprove DC’s decoupling from Trump’s devastating tax cuts for the richest, H.R. 142, and introduced H.R. 5140 which attempts to lower the age at which minors in DC can be tried as adults to as young as 14 years old. Of the 11 DC attack bills that have come to the floor this Congress, he has voted YEA on all 11 of them.
Rep. Paul Gosar
Represents: Arizona’s 9th
Record: Most recently, Gosar introduced the disapproval resolutions for DC’s Full Accountability in Arrest Reporting Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (H. J. Res 192) and the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (H. J. Res 193). A January 6 defender who was officially censured by the House in 2021 for posting animated videos that depicted him killing Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, he has introduced his own bill called the “DC Home Rule Improvement Act” in every Congress since 2019. Currently H.R. 5183, the bill has so far died in committee every time he has introduced it. Of the 11 DC attack bills that have come to the floor this Congress, he has voted YEA on all 11 of them.
Rep. Tim Burchett
Represents: Tennessee’s 2nd
Record: Introduced H.R .9775, the “Concealed Crime Prevention Act,” which would increase penalties for committing crimes in the District of Columbia while wearing ski masks. This bill is similar to other unsuccessful “unmasking Antifa” legislation introduced in previous sessions. Announced as the chair of the new subcommittee on DOGE at the start of 2026, Burchett’s other claim to fame as a member of the House Oversight Committee is serving as the champion for transparency around UFO research and whistleblower protections for those who report UFO sightings. Of the 11 DC attack bills that have come to the floor this Congress, he has voted YEA on all 11 of them.
Rep. Andy Harris
Represents: Maryland’s 1st
Record: The only republican in Maryland’s delegation, and current chair of the House Freedom Caucus, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton called Harris “a serial abuser of Congress' illegitimate power over the local laws of the District of Columbia.” Harris is a Trump loyalist and was in the room when January 6 was being planned. He has co-sponsored five bills attacking DC: H.R. 7, H.R. 1686, H.R. 4788, H.R. 5015, and H.R. 5016.
We’re focusing on these members because of their clear and consistent record of introducing or co-sponsoring attacks against DC. See the Congress Working Group’s entire list of how members of the House score on their votes on DC issues.
As we turn toward November, Free DC will be considering ways to make it more difficult and more costly for these people attacking us to run for re-election. Sign up to get updates from our Congress Working Group to learn about ways to be part of this in the weeks ahead.
