There is so much bleak and wrenching news right now. Brutal cuts to Medicaid, the DC Health Care Alliance, and SNAP benefits will cause unnecessary hardship for far too many people. In the midst of these challenges, I wanted to share a piece of good news and a reason for hope.

Thanks to the advocacy of DC Greens and many of our sister organizations working on food access and health equity, funding for the DC Food Policy Council (FPC) has been fully restored in the District’s FY27 budget. The Council had been slated for elimination in the Mayor’s proposed budget.

Recognizing the need for a government-embedded entity focused on food, nutrition, and health policy, DC Greens helped lead the effort to establish the Food Policy Council in 2014, working alongside DC Central Kitchen, then-Councilmember Mary Cheh, and many community partners. Over the past decade, the FPC has become an indispensable part of the District’s food and health equity infrastructure.

Since its creation, the Council has helped shape and advance numerous policies that strengthen food security, support local food systems, and improve health outcomes for District residents. These efforts have contributed to important legislative achievements, including support for healthy schools, urban agriculture, grocery access, WIC expansion, and other initiatives that have expanded access to nutritious food across the city. While no piece of legislation is perfect, each of these measures has represented meaningful progress toward a healthier and more equitable District.

At a time when many jurisdictions are scaling back or eliminating Food Policy Councils, it is encouraging to see the District moving in the opposite direction. Under the legislation, the Council will move from the Office of Planning, which no longer wished to house it, to the Department of Health. The FPC is also expected to receive expanded authority and responsibilities. What began as a proposal to eliminate the Council entirely has ultimately resulted in a stronger institution, better positioned to advance meaningful food and health policy in the years ahead.

Amid so much difficult news, this outcome is a welcome reminder that, with timely advocacy and powerful community input, progress is still possible. Now, the Food Policy Council can continue its work to advance food security, health, and equity across the District. That is encouraging news, and a reason for optimism about what we can accomplish together.