Full Breakdown
Republican Bill to Return Arlington and Alexandria to Washington, D.C.
4/25/2026, 7:35:14 AM
Legislative Push to Restore DC’s Original Borders
Georgia Representative Rich McCormick (R) introduced the “Make DC Square Again Act” on April 23, 2026. The bill seeks to reverse the 1846 retrocession that moved the City of Alexandria and Arlington County back to Virginia, restoring the District of Columbia to its original ten-mile-square, 100-square-mile footprint. McCormick frames the measure as a constitutional correction that would eliminate the “artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained” from the presence of federal employees in Northern Virginia.
Historical Context of Retrocession
In 1846 Congress approved the return of 31 square miles (? 80 km²) of the federal district to Virginia, creating the modern municipalities of Alexandria and Arlington. The retrocession was driven by local concerns over a lagging economy and the prospect of a federal ban on slavery. Subsequent attempts to re-retrocede the land—such as Senator Benjamin Wade’s 1866 proposal and an 1836 effort by Senator William Preston—failed in the Senate.
Political Stakes and Numbers
A June 2024 Virginia redistricting referendum, approved by voters, would give Democrats a projected four additional U.S. House seats. The referendum’s map links the heavily Democratic suburbs of Northern Virginia with more rural districts, a configuration Republicans argue dilutes GOP strength. Arlington and Alexandria together contain roughly 250,000 voters—about 400,000 residents overall—who voted ? 77 % for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in 2024. If the bill passed, those voters would be removed from Virginia’s rolls and placed under DC representation, potentially reshaping the state’s congressional balance.
Key Figures and Groups
- Rich McCormick (R-GA) – bill sponsor, cites the Enclave Clause as granting Congress exclusive authority over DC boundaries.
- Donald Beyer (D-VA) – Representative for the affected district, calls the proposal “an embarrassing legislative tantrum.”
- Alicia Yass – Advocacy Director, American Civil Liberties Union of D.C., argues the bill underscores the need for DC statehood.
- George Derek Musgrove – Associate Professor of History, University of Maryland-Baltimore County, labels the bill a “Virginia voter suppression” effort.
- Wren Williams (R-VA) – State delegate supporting the act as a “healing process” for Virginia.
- Mike Howell – President, The Oversight Project, advocates legal action to return DC to its “proper constitutional place.”
- Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger – Office spokesperson emphasizes inflation and gas prices as higher priorities.
- Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones – Indicates his office will appeal the court order blocking certification of the redistricting results.
Official Statements & Responses
McCormick argues the Constitution’s Enclave Clause gives Congress sole power over DC borders and that retrocession was “unconstitutional.” Beyer counters that the bill would disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of constituents and calls it a partisan reaction to the redistricting vote. Spanberger’s office stresses that economic concerns, not territorial adjustments, should dominate legislative focus. The American Capital Project, a little-known advocacy group, proposes a presidential executive order to void the 1846 law and push the issue to the Supreme Court. Legal scholars cited in the sources note that Congress’s authority to retrocede land remains unsettled.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics describe the proposal as a “political football” that uses DC’s borders to offset Democratic gains in Virginia. Civil-rights advocates warn that manipulating district lines for partisan advantage undermines democratic participation. Some Republicans, including Williams, argue the act is necessary to resolve a “long-standing divide” between northern and southern Virginia, while others, such as Jeffries, view the redistricting referendum as a temporary safeguard against alleged GOP gerrymandering.
Legal Uncertainties & Gaps
The Constitution’s Enclave Clause, historical precedents, and the lack of clear congressional authority create a contested legal landscape. No definitive ruling exists on whether retrocession can be reversed without a Supreme Court decision. The American Capital Project’s funding and organizational structure remain opaque. Additionally, the bill’s path requires approval from both Congress and the jurisdictions involved, a hurdle not yet quantified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Make DC Square Again Act restores the original ten-mile-square District and ends the artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained from all the federal bureaucrats moving into Virginia,” — Rich McCormick, Representative (GA)
- “Rich McCormick’s bill is an embarrassing legislative tantrum,” — Donald Beyer, Representative (VA)
- “The residents of the district are not fully participating in the democracy of this country because we are not allowed to,” — Alicia Yass, Advocacy Director, ACLU of D.C.
- “If we’re going to claim we support the constitution while our federal capital remains split over separate jurisdictions, how are we any better than those who allow millions of illegal aliens to flow across our borders as enemies to our nation?” — Wren Williams, Delegate (VA)
- “The Oversight Project has been pushing this issue on many fronts, particularly as it relates to President Trump's authority to take control of the area and an out of control D.C. bar,” — Mike Howell, President, The Oversight Project
What’s Next
The bill faces immediate procedural obstacles: congressional approval, potential legal challenges invoking the Enclave Clause, and possible Supreme Court review. Virginia’s redistricting map remains under judicial scrutiny, with Attorney General Jay Jones planning an appeal. As the 2026 midterm elections approach, both parties are likely to reference the proposal in campaign rhetoric, making its political impact a focal point of future discourse.
