🥊 USAID office closure gets pushback

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USAID Office Shuttered

Democratic lawmakers rallied outside the USAID building yesterday to push back against the Trump administration’s attempt to shut the agency. Staff were barred from entering. Democrats promised a court fight, saying President Trump can’t shut USAID down without congressional approval. [AP]

Mt. Pleasant Library Closing For Repairs

Bad news, book nerds: the Mt. Pleasant branch of the DC Public Library will be closed from Feb. 10 through June 23 for upgrades. All holds placed for pickup at Mt. Pleasant will automatically transfer to the Petworth Library. [DC News Now]

FBI Headquarters Selection Deemed Faulty

A new audit says the General Services Administration tweaked scoring criteria for the FBI’s new headquarters in Greenbelt’s favor, but it also says there were no ethics violations or conflicts of interest. It’s unclear what happens next. Trump wants the agency to stay in D.C. [Washington Business Journal 🔒]

Unionizing Restaurant Workers Claim Retaliation

Employees at some of D.C.’s most popular restaurants claim they are facing intimidation and retaliation after they announced plans to unionize. Starr Restaurants and the Knightbridge Restaurant Group deny the allegations. [Washingtonian]

• Meanwhile: Union Kitchen's owner agreed to pay more than $133,000 to its workers after illegally withholding tips paid by customers. [Washington Post 🔒]

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