D.C. leaders and activists are pleading with U.S. Senate offices to avoid $1.1 billion in cuts from the city's budget.

Why it matters: The House GOP muscled through a bill late Tuesday to avoid a government shutdown, but the bill would force local spending cuts that the mayor's office says would impact police staffing, public schools, bus and rail service, and first responders.

The big picture: The bill treats the District as a federal agency and requires the city to revert to funding levels from the previous fiscal year for the next six months.

State of play: Mayor Muriel Bowser yesterday called Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who said the D.C. language "came as a surprise to me," per HuffPost.

• "That was not a provision that was in the Senate bill or anything that we advocated for," said Collins, who chairs the Appropriations Committee.
• Council members including Brianne Nadeau joined a group of D.C. activists visiting Senate offices yesterday.

D.C.'s chances of averting the cuts dimmed after the bill passed the House, but the city has some hope left to bet on.

• Democrats are playing hardball, willing to risk a shutdown to negotiate a better deal with Republicans — and that would also avoid D.C.'s budget cuts.
• Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine says his fellow Democrats could rally behind a 30-day spending bill proposed by Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington state that would leave D.C.'s budget alone.

Yes, but: Any changes would need House approval, complicating a precarious process to avoid the government from shutting down late Friday.

• Bowser signaled to Republicans that their cuts would detract from President Trump's desire to improve and beautify the District.
• The funds in question are local taxpayer dollars — not federal subsidies.

What's ahead: Activists are inviting parents and kids to join them in protest at 10am Thursday: "Kids off from school on Thursday? Let's have recess at the Senate Hart Building as lawmakers consider DC's future."

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82% of Axios D.C. readers prefer the District rejoin Maryland than being taken over by President Trump.

• Over 1,240 people participated in our poll, spurred by comments from Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin that Maryland take back D.C. temporarily during the Trump admin.

📦 Not everyone wants to be a Maryland driver, though: "Neither! After 30+ years in DC, I would move to VA," one reader says.

✉️ Another says one benefit of joining Maryland would be "broadening the jury pool so I don't get a jury summons EVERY two years."

🌊 Commenting on our pro/con list of Maryland annexing D.C., one reader says: "You wouldn't have orange crushes without Ocean City...stop slandering my hometown!! :)"

❌ Meanwhile, one Marylander thinks, "I don't want DC in Maryland. We have enough people to support."

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🍷 Total Wine & More is coming to Friendship Heights at the end of the summer at the redeveloped Mazza Gallerie space, now a near-complete seven-story residential complex. TJ Maxx is also opening in the retail slots along Wisconsin Avenue. (UrbanTurf)

💰 After sitting on the market for a while, Dan Snyder donated his Potomac mansion back in May to the American Cancer Society, which is still having a hard time selling the French chateau-style property. The asking price dropped to $30M in September. (Washingtonian)

🐣 A duck and her ducklings have been nesting in a downtown planter box at New York Avenue and 14th Street NW since at least February. One local named the mom Mallardy. (Washington Post)

🐊 Rapper Doechii, the Swamp Princess, is headlining WorldPride D.C.'s Closing Concert on Sunday, June 8. (More details)

Afternoon tea season is blooming for spring.

Why it matters: Many of the city's popular tea services go all-out with cherry blossom-themed blends, bites and decor.

State of play: Afternoon tea is increasingly popular in D.C., especially at luxury hotels — though more casual places are joining the fun (most require reservations regardless).

Pinkies up!

The St. Regis (Downtown): Dress up for this elegant cherry blossom tea near the White House, starring Dammann Frères blends and a tree full of sweet and savory bites in the luxe lobby.

• Reservations (through May 18), Weds-Sun, starting at $119.

The Pendry (Wharf): The luxe waterfront hotel's boozy tea service gets a cherry blossom twist with offerings like sake-spiked sakura tea and lychee-liquor macarons — plus, you can see Hains Point blossoms from the rooftop.

• Saturday reservations are $80 through April 30.

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🏛️ See who's hiring around D.C.

1. Director of Infrastructure, Energy and Permitting at Arnold Ventures.
2. Manager, Federal Affairs at American Dental Association.
3. Manager of Public Affairs and Communications, Health Care at Arnold Ventures.
4. President, RLC & Sr EVP and General Counsel, RILA at Retail Litigation Center (RLC).
5. Advocacy Analyst at Arnold Ventures.

Want more opportunities?Check out our Job Board.

Late tonight and early Friday bring the rare chance to see a total lunar eclipse and "Blood Moon."

Why it matters: This is the first total lunar eclipse since November 2022 and it's the only lunar eclipse visible from the U.S. this year.

How it works: A lunar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon align so the moon passes into Earth's shadow, according to NASA.

• Total lunar eclipses occur when the Moon passes into the dark shadow of the Earth.

Lunar eclipses are sometimes called "Blood Moons" because the Moon will turn a reddish and copper hue, NASA said.

The big picture: The hours for when the lunar eclipse will be visible vary by time zone, but the weekend's start of daylight saving time means the Sun rises later.

The initial phase of the eclipse, called the penumbral eclipse, begins at 11:57pm ET, NASA said in its timeline.

• Totality begins at 2:26am ET Friday.

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