AG Brian Schwalb

Official Account of DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb. Committed to independence, safety, democracy, & shared prosperity in DC. Dad, listener, 3rd gen resident.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Highlights from the 2026 OAG Right Direction Awards! 📸

I am so proud of this new generation of leaders and changemakers in DC.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Today, we are proud to announce our 2026 Right Direction Awards Honorees.

This marks the 10th year of OAG celebrating young people in DC who have overcome adversity and are making a positive impact in their community.

Over the past decade, more than 200 DC youth have been honored.

We are proud of these young leaders, role models, and changemakers and look forward to celebrating them at tonight's ceremony.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Today, we are proud to announce our 2026 Right Direction Awards Honorees.

This marks the 10th year of OAG celebrating young people in DC who have overcome adversity and are making a positive impact in their community.

Over the past decade, more than 200 DC youth have been honored.

We are proud of these young leaders, role models, and changemakers and look forward to celebrating them at tonight's ceremony.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Congratulations to Mayor-elect Janeese Lewis George, Delegate-elect Robert White, and all of DC’s newly elected and returning leaders!

This is a historic moment for DC as we prepare to welcome a new Mayor for the first time in 12 years and a new Delegate for the first time in 35 years.

The Mayor-elect is already off to a strong start by assembling an excellent transition team led by Executive Director Jennifer Levy and staffed with a number of exceptional current and former leaders from the Office of the Attorney General.

DC is strongest when its leaders work together. I'm looking forward to continuing to stand shoulder to shoulder as we fight to defend DC’s autonomy and ensure the District is safe and affordable for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.

[DC Board of Elections @Vote4DC]

It’s Election Day! All Vote Centers are NOW OPEN! Voters can vote at ANY Vote Center, regardless of residential address. Find locations here: https://t.co/yX1W40rNHQ #vote4dc

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Legal protections against voter intimidation and interference:
https://t.co/qgo0EvW48E

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Federal law prohibits the military and federal law enforcement from interfering with elections.

OAG has contacted the Administration about the presence of National Guard troops and federal agents near voting locations in recent days.

National Guard leadership has advised that members of Joint Task Force-DC, which includes both the National Guard and federal law enforcement, have been directed not to patrol at or near any voting locations in the District.

Please report potential violations to our office at 202-727-3400 or [email protected] and to the DC Board of Elections at 202-727-2194 or [email protected].

Every DC resident has the right to vote free of intimidation or interference.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

@RayceenHRH @MayorBowser @ProducerStewart @DCLGBTQ So great to see you, @RayceenHRH!

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Another successful Walk for Justice! ⚖️

Thank you @DCBarFoundation for bringing us together for a great cause and everyone in the DC legal community who took part.

Over $400,000 raised for civil legal services so DC residents do not have to face their lives' worst crises alone.

[Washington Informer @WashInformer]

D.C. Attorney General Schwalb urges the City Council to amend the SHARE Act to speed up evictions and provide tenant legal aid. https://t.co/BhREZUvD9i

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Today, OAG is testifying before the Council's Housing Committee on addressing the critical nonpayment of rent issue in DC.

Over the past few months, OAG has worked with Housing Unity DC to facilitate a diverse working group of landlords, attorneys, Superior Court judges, tenant organizers, and policy experts to come up with solutions to this problem.

Slow eviction case timelines are hurting both landlords and tenants.

Since the pandemic, eviction case timelines have grown significantly. Initial hearings used to take place about 30 days after a complaint. Now, they take up to 90 days. Follow-up hearings that previously happened 2-3 weeks later now take place 2-3 months later.

The drawn-out timeline can lead some tenants to prioritize paying other bills over rent. The problem is exacerbated by the rising costs, federal layoffs, and other economic challenges DC residents face.

As months pass and tenants' back rent balances grow, it becomes harder for them to resolve their case and avoid eviction. At the same time, it becomes harder for landlords to maintain their properties — exposing tenants to worsening housing conditions.

And if the landlord is forced into foreclosure or bankruptcy, the affordability covenant on their property may be lost — permanently taking affordable units off the market. The high level of unpaid rent threatens tenants, landlords, and DC as a whole.

The @DC_Courts need more federal funding to resolve cases with reasonable speed.

Processing eviction cases more quickly requires more judges and staff, but funding for the DC Courts has been flat for four consecutive years. Even worse, the proposed federal budget currently includes a 13% cut for our courts.

Despite these constraints, Superior Court recently added a new magistrate judge and opened a fourth courtroom in the Landlord and Tenant Branch. We commend Chief Judge Lee and the Court for making this happen.

Still, more federal funding is needed to fully address the scale of this issue.

Early mediation in eviction cases can help address the current nonpayment crisis.

While most eviction cases eventually settle, these settlements often happen months into the case after everyone has expended substantial time and resources. Early mediation would bring parties together before the initial hearing to reach an early settlement.

If enough landlords and tenants participate, early settlements will preserve the Court's resources and allow attorneys to focus on cases where early agreement is not possible. They will also allow landlords and tenants to disrupt nonpayment, address needed repairs, and get the relationship back on track.

The SHARE Act, which was introduced by @CMRobertWhiteDC, proposes early mediation as an important and creative solution to improve eviction case processing in DC.

The SHARE Act can be strengthened to make mediation appealing for both tenants and landlords.

Rather than requiring participating landlords to engage in mediation before filing an eviction case, early mediation should start at case filing. This will prevent additional delays in eviction cases and also make it more likely that tenants participate.

Secondly, the bill should include funding for housing counseling and legal services. Tenants want to ensure they retain access to counsel during early mediation and will likely not participate if they do not.

Lastly, the SHARE Act should increase the number of rental units it covers each year from 2,000 to at least 5,000. This will allow early mediation to have a greater impact on the approximately 15,000 eviction cases filed in DC each year.

OAG is working with all stakeholders to address this critical issue, while also continuing to protect tenants from dangerous housing conditions, discrimination, and rent-fixing.

[Councilmember_RobertWhite @CMRobertWhiteDC]

Tune in to watch the Committee on Housing hearing to discuss the SHARE Pilot Program Amendment Act of 2026
⬇️🏠📺

https://t.co/jbI3wtm1rg

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

https://t.co/qgo0EvWBYc

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Early voting is now open in DC! 🗳️🗳️

Stop by an Early Vote Center to cast your ballot from 8:30am – 7:00 pm on Monday, October 26 through Sunday, November 1.

If you witness any attempt to interfere with our local elections, report it to @Vote4DC at 202-727-2194 or [email protected] and our office at 202-727-3400 or [email protected].

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

All across the nation, people face rising costs, stagnating wages, and new types of scams and gouging.

State Attorneys General are often the last line of defense to prevent Americans from being ripped off.

Our office works relentlessly to defend DC residents from exploitation, fraud, and deceptive practices.

Thank you @consumeraction for recognizing our efforts and for being a partner in the fight to protect consumers for 55 years!

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

If you witness any attempt to interfere with our local elections, please report it to @Vote4DC by contacting 202-727-2194 or [email protected] and our office by contacting 202-727-3400 or [email protected].

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Voting in DC is simple, secure, and reliable.

District law and federal law protect the right of DC residents and all Americans to vote in free and fair elections.

Today, we issued an advisory on DC voters' protections against coercion and interference:
https://t.co/qgo0EvWBYc

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Voting in DC is simple, secure, and reliable.

District law and federal law protect the right of DC residents and all Americans to vote in free and fair elections.

Today, we issued an advisory on DC voters' protections against coercion and interference:
https://t.co/qgo0EvWBYc

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

The massive turnout at the @DCSCORES gala is a testament to the profound impact it has on our schools and communities.

For over three decades, DC SCORES' programs and volunteers have instilled joy, self-expression, and a sense of belonging in students across our city.

Here’s to continuing to support this amazing organization that does so much for our young people in DC!

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

Either way, it's illegal.

Residents can report violations of DC's Wage Transparency Act to our office by contacting [email protected] or 202-724-7730.

[Sharon Eliza Nichols @SharonElizaDC]

DC law requires salary ranges in job postings, yet I see a significant minority of postings that leave it out.

Do we think it’s simple ignorance? Intentional? Either way, it’s pretty frustrating.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

These changes will make the Comprehensive Plan more intuitive and accessible to DC residents.

Combined with future zoning changes enabled by DC 2050, they will also make it easier to build in DC.

Dive in:
Summary📙: https://t.co/2W4Q6kyxA0
White Paper📘: https://t.co/Lf3AIor7s7

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

NEW: Today, we released recommendations to simplify and modernize DC's Comprehensive Plan for land use.

DC 2050 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape our city.

We lay out ways the Plan can make building in DC easier, faster, and more transparent — even before upzoning.

[AG Brian Schwalb @DCAttorneyGen]

5️⃣Use Wards as the geographic basis

The current Plan divides DC into 10 planning areas, such as Mid-City or Upper Northeast.

But Wards are more familiar and a source of identity for DC residents. Wards are also the basis for other DC plans and policies. Let's use them instead.