District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has unveiled her priorities for the district’s fiscal 2026 budget, even as its 2025 budget faces cuts for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Bowser outlined the top priorities for her proposal for next year’s budget on Thursday, centering on child care and early learning programs. The proposal calls for $19.5 million for Washington’s Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program, $86 million for the D.C. Child Care Subsidy Program, and $70 million for the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund.

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