Washington companies are jumping on the "fur baby" trend and providing pet bennies to their employees.

The big picture: As people continue to delay having children, more owners are considering their fuzzy offspring part of the fam.

• 94 million American households have a pet, per the American Pet Products Association, and they'll spend a projected $41.4 billion this year on vet care and pet products.

State of play: Tysons-based Hilton offers pet insurance and, starting this month, employees will be able to access pet services through its concierge partnership with Wellthy, a spokesperson tells Axios.

• Think: help finding groomers, vets, boarding spots or doggie-friendly housing. Or, assistance setting up recurring food or prescription deliveries, or with understanding pet insurance claims.

Companies with local footprints like Adobe, Blue Cross Blue Shield, John Hancock, Lyft and Workday partner with pet care group Airvet for free 24/7 virtual vet help and discounts on pet insurance, wellness plans, and backup care via resources like Rover, an Airvet spokesperson says.

And at Google, workers can bring their furry pals (aka Dooglers) to the office and get discounts on pet insurance through the group Perks at Work, a spokesperson tells Axios.

The intrigue: The number of D.C.-area clients Airvet works with jumped 267% between 2023 and 2024, per the spokesperson.

What they're saying: Finding a company where pets are supported as part of an employee's family can be a deciding factor for some when choosing a gig, Airvet CEO Brandon Werber says.

By the numbers: 32% of fur parents said having pet benefits would incentivize them to stay at their job, or to look for another that offers them, according to a 2021 survey led by Nationwide.

• 57% of pet owners said they'd switch to a job with the same pay but with better pet benefits, a 2024 Empower survey of pet owners found.
• And 17% would consider taking a lower-paying job if it offered "pawternity" leave, per the Empower survey.

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New data is out showing the damaging effects of DOGE cuts on Maryland's federal workforce — another example of how the Trump administration's policies continue to send shockwaves across the DMV.

Why it matters: About 229,000 Marylanders work for the federal government.

Driving the news: Maryland has seen the largest number of federal job losses (not including federal contractors) out of any state in the country since the start of the second Trump administration, a Maryland Department of Labor spokesperson said during a meeting last week.

• And the state lost an estimated 3,500 federal jobs in June, according to its latest job report — the largest monthly decrease in such jobs in almost 30 years.
• The state's unemployment rate rose to 3.3% in June, up from 3.2% in May.

Context: The federal government "is an economic engine" and "a driver of the state's employment growth," according to a recent report from the state's comptroller, and the cuts "will have a damaging effect on the state's economy."

What they're saying: There's only been about six months of government cuts, but they've already had a similar effect on the state as the two years of cuts seen a decade ago under sequestration, Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman said last month.

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🐾 It's Clear the Shelters free adoption weekend at Brandywine Valley's two D.C. animal shelters near Ivy City and Bellevue — all fees waived on pups, cats and more.

🕺Construction on a new $200-million, 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom will begin in September, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said yesterday. That means no more tent for large events like state dinners. (Axios)

🗞️ More Washington Post journalists announced they're taking buyouts ahead of yesterday's deadline, such as sports columnist Sally Jenkins and media critic Erik Wemple. (Axios)

🎨 Final designs are out for an $11-million renovation of the Anacostia Arts Center, which includes street-level retail and more event space. (WBJ)

👀 The National Museum of American History recently took down references to President Trump's impeachments in an exhibit.

• The Smithsonian later said in a statement, "a future and updated exhibit will include all impeachments." (Washington Post)

Parents are entering the 2025 back-to-school season facing rising prices and looming tariffs, forcing them to shop smarter.

Why it matters: Virginia's annual sales tax holiday for back-to-school supplies is this weekend.

State of play: From 12:01am today through 11:59pm Sunday, a range of purchases are exempt from the state's sales tax.

• That includes school supplies, clothes and shoes.

Yes, but: Items must be under price caps to be tax-free, including:

• $20 per item for school supplies.
• $100 per item for clothes and shoes.

By the numbers: Stationary and supplies prices have risen 30% over the past five years, per Deloitte's 2025 back-to-school survey. Between May 2021 and 2025:

• Boys' apparel climbed 14%.
• Girls' apparel and footwear were both up 4%.
• Personal computers and peripheral equipment fell 11%.

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🗓️ Mark your calendar with our Event Board.

Family Paint Party at Bonchon on Aug 6: Sip & Paint Wednesdays at Bonchon Arlington offer two hours of guided creativity, bold artwork, and great food. Enjoy 20% off food and drinks, a full bar, and free on-site parking. $42.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

President Trump's "big beautiful bill" mandates that the Space Shuttle Discovery be moved from the Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center in NoVa to a NASA facility in Houston — and some locals aren't happy.

Why it matters: It's a win for the Texas politicians who've been pushing for the Discovery's relocation.

State of play: The Smithsonian is fighting to keep the Discovery in the DMV, pointing to the fact that it owns the shuttle and moving it would be expensive and likely cause damage.

• Some Washingtonians don't like the idea, either — a locally organized group called KeepTheShuttle is advocating for the Discovery to stay in the area.

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