Axios Event: D.C. planning for economic shifts amid federal job cuts

WASHINGTON – D.C. is investing in sports and entertainment while identifying other ways to boost the economy if federal jobs in the area decrease under President Trump's second administration.

Why it matters: D.C.'s economy relies on the many federal workers that live in the region, some of whom have lost their jobs due to Elon Musk's DOGE cuts.

Axios D.C.'s Cuneyt Dil spoke with WMATA CEO Randy Clarke and Nina Albert, D.C.'s deputy mayor for planning and economic development, at the March 24 event, which was sponsored by Lyft.

What they're saying: "I think as a region, we've got to be eyes wide open," Clarke said.

• "There is a regional conversation about if all of these federal agencies left D.C., we're going to have a different region."

Yes, but: Clarke is not focused on politics in his job as head of WMATA.

• "I think it's also fair to say this institution has been pretty politicized over a long period of time. I'm doing everything I can to pull the politics out of [the] organization, be very data-driven, very transparent," Clarke said.

Zoom in: Among other options the city is looking to expand in the sports and entertainment arena, considering plans to build a thermal spa and a new NFL stadium at the RFK Stadium site.

• "We have to now shift, and I take a look at the long view," Albert said. "The next three to four years, I think that's what it's going to take to figure out how to get back up and out and get to net positive again."
• "But our job is to interject and get things up and going as quickly as possible, that's why we believe in a sports investment," she added.