Chair of D.C. Commission on Poverty urges restoration of commission funding cut to zero in FY26

Chairman Moses, who serves as chair of the District of Columbia Commission on Poverty, and Khadijah Williams, the commission’s vice chair, asked the Committee to restore funding that was eliminated in FY26 and to resource the legally‑mandated functions of the body. Moses said the commission has a statutory duty to hold listening sessions and convene agency leaders and that eliminating operational staff prevents the commission from fulfilling its mandate under D.C. Law 23‑184.

Williams and other witnesses said the commission’s role is unique: it is charged with tracking whether cross‑agency investments reduce poverty and recommending policy adjustments; they requested funding to hire an executive director, two analysts and to pay commissioners with lived experience so the commission can coordinate data, hold listening sessions and produce an annual poverty‑reduction plan. Witnesses told the Committee that roughly 116,544 District residents live below the federal poverty line, and argued that a modest investment would improve accountability and targeting across agencies.

The Committee asked for the commission’s proposed workplan and for estimates showing how restored staff and analyst positions would be used to produce cross‑agency metrics. No restoration was decided at the hearing; Commissioners were asked to supply written documentation of proposed staffing, deliverables and a budget request for Committee consideration.