D.C. restores high-tech public toilets — with plans for more

Why it matters: D.C. is desperate for more bathrooms, and demand is rising.

🧻 State of play: Six Thrones — equipped with A/C, sinks, menstrual products and baby stations — are now back in operation near high-traffic spots like Dupont Circle and the National Mall.

• Throne's contract is renewed through September 30, co-founder Jessica Heinzelman tells Axios.
• The city has budgeted $1 million in fiscal year 2026 for expanded public restrooms, including up to 10 Thrones and a new full-time restroom program manager at the Department of Public Works.
• The contract is competitive, so other companies can bid for the long-term deal.

Friction point: The nation's capital ranks behind 20 U.S. cities in public toilet access, according to the Public Toilet Index — and far behind European cities.

• The wait is worse after Starbucks — aka America's default restroom — ended non-paying customer access this year.
• The public is speaking out. A petition to reopen Throne gained over 1,000 signatures.
• Other cities have embraced more Thrones. Los Angeles, for example, has over 60 in their Metro stations.

What's next: New permanent bathrooms are in the works for the National Mall, but construction won't begin until after 2026, the National Park Service tells Axios.