Opportunity DC Urges Swift Passage of RFK Redevelopment Bill after Removal From FY 2026 Budget
Tell the D.C. Council to Approve the Deal!
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the DC Council advances the FY26 Budget Support Act (BSA), Opportunity DC is calling for urgent action on Council Bill B26-0288, the Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025. The bill, initially included in the BSA, was introduced on June 20th as a standalone measure by Council Chairman Phil Mendelson.
Opportunity DC and members of the employer community have long championed the RFK Campus redevelopment as a transformational opportunity to unlock the site’s full potential, deliver long-term economic growth, and bring the Commanders home. The proposed deal between the District and the Commanders represents the largest private investment in city history, with the team covering more than 70 percent of the project costs and the District contributing primarily toward infrastructure investments over the next seven years.
“This once-in-a-generation deal will create new jobs, housing, and amenities for District residents. We believe it will maximize public dollars and benefit DC in ways other stadium deals across the country have not,” said Malcom Fox, Executive Director of Opportunity DC. “We appreciate the Council’s commitment to preserving the funds included in the FY26 budget and urge swift passage of the new standalone bill. Recent polling shows strong support among District residents for this project, and we believe most Councilmembers support it as well. We cannot afford to let this moment slip away.”
The redevelopment plan dedicates just 11 percent of the site to the stadium footprint, with the remaining land designated for community benefits, including up to 6,500 new housing units with 30 percent affordability requirements, athletic facilities for DC youth, dedicated green space, and new retail and dining options. The project is also slated to create thousands of jobs for District residents, both in construction and long-term operations.
DC’s exclusive rights to negotiate with the Commanders expire on July 15, according to the current terms of the deal and the team has expressed deep concern in missing construction deadlines that would allow them to compete for major events after 2030. “We urge the Council not to fumble this generational opportunity to transform a dormant lot into a thriving community, deliver long-term economic growth, and bring our Commanders home,” added Fox.
Residents can learn more about the RFK mixed-use development plan and how to support passage at RFKnow.team
Media Contact:
Malcom Fox
Executive Director
mfox@opportunitydc.us