Councilmember Robert White Pushes Back on Rushed Stadium Deal, Calls for a Fair Deal that Puts Residents First
OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT C. WHITE, JR
CHAIR, COMMITTEE ON HOUSING
THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
1350 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 107
WASHINGTON, DC 20004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday July 25, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Whitney Sweetwine, 202-600-1866
“NOT LIKE THIS”: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT WHITE PUSHES BACK ON RUSHED STADIUM DEAL, CALLS FOR A FAIR DEAL THAT PUTS RESIDENTS FIRST
Washington, D.C.— Over the past several weeks, I’ve been transparent about my position on the Commanders stadium deal, sharing updates in interviews, on social media, and in my newsletter. I believed real progress was being made, residents were being heard, and a better, fairer deal for D.C. was within reach. But what’s now being fast-tracked for a vote does not reflect that progress. It doesn’t reflect our values, and it doesn’t prioritize residents. This deal is being sold to the public like it’s already done. But the costs are real, and they fall on D.C. residents. We are being asked to use public land and public dollars to fund our own displacement. That’s the simple truth. A stadium of this scale will drive up property taxes in surrounding neighborhoods and price out residents. And while a billionaire team owner walks away with millions in tax breaks, longtime residents, especially retirees on fixed incomes, will be stuck with the tab. If you’re a senior who paid off your home and hoped to age in place, you could now be taxed out of the neighborhood you spent a lifetime building so a professional football team can profit off your city. That’s not just bad economics; that’s a moral failure. It’s everything people hate about government: bending over backwards for billionaires while working families and elders get squeezed out.
Let me be clear: this isn’t about stopping a stadium, it’s about building one that doesn’t steamroll D.C. residents. I’m not standing in the way of progress; I’m fighting for a version of this deal that protects our neighbors and actually delivers for the people who live here. To make this deal fair for D.C., here’s what must be in it:
• Anti-displacement protections: Freeze property taxes in the neighborhoods surrounding RFK to keep longtime residents from being pushed out.
• Real housing commitments: The promise of 6,000 housing units needs to be real. If deadlines are missed, the land should revert to the city with penalties. DC can’t end up with a stadium, but no housing.
• Good-paying jobs for D.C. residents: Any billion-dollar project must include Project Labor Agreements with strong local hiring provisions for the entire project.
• Real revenue from team operations: The team shouldn’t refuse to bring their headquarters to DC. If you’re coming to DC, come to DC. The team’s headquarters would bring $8–10 million a year that we need for schools and housing.
• Tax equity: End the stadium’s seating tax exemption. A billion-dollar franchise should not get out of paying what local businesses and residents cannot avoid.
I’m also alarmed by the growing involvement of Congressional Republicans and President Trump in this process. These are the same figures who repeatedly try to strip D.C. of our rights and hurt our city. Their involvement isn’t a coincidence, it’s a choice. And it’s a dangerous and unacceptable one. Inviting those who seek to harm our city to move a major public deal is reckless. It crosses a line. This isn’t partnership, it’s betrayal. The deal was already in motion before the public hearing, making the upcoming vote just two days later a clear sign that residents’ concerns are being ignored and the process is rushed.
I know many of you are frustrated. You’re feeling like DC officials care more about the team’s timeline than your concerns. You’rewondering whether there’s any point in showing up to the public hearing next week if it feels like the deal is already done. But this is exactly the time to show up. This isn’t just about football. It’s about fairness. It’s about who gets to stay in D.C. and who gets pushed out. I didn’t sign off on this deal, and I won’t unless it puts D.C. residents first.
I’ll be at the hearing and I want you to be there with me. Together, we will fight for a stadium deal that reflects D.C.’s values, not just billionaire interests. We deserve better. And we still have a say.
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