Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA07) introduced the Make DC Square Again Act today to undo the unconstitutional 1846 retrocession of Arlington County and the City of Alexandria from the District of Columbia to Virginia.
This will restore D.C’s original boundaries established by the Residence Act of 1790. Put simply, it will bring the district back to how the Founding Fathers originally envisioned it.
When commenting on the legislation, Rep. McCormick explained its historical significance and framed it as a crucial step in rectifying a consequential mistake.
He criticized Virginia Democrats, claiming that they have rigged elections and coasted on an ‘artificial’ advantage.
“The Constitution never authorized Congress to carve pieces out of the federal District and hand them back to a state,” Rep. McCormick explained. “Democrats have spent years manipulating maps and boundaries to rig elections.”
“The Make DC Square Again Act restores the original ten-mile-square District and ends the artificial advantage Virginia Democrats have recently gained from all the federal bureaucrats moving into Virginia,” he continued.
The Bill and its Context
For context, Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution is commonly referred to as the Enclave Clause. This grants Congress authority over a federal district “not exceeding ten miles square” of territory ceded by state governments to serve as the seat of government.
The Constitution does not enumerate any power to retrocede such territories back to state governments.
This bill also follows the narrow passage of a partisan redistricting referendum in Virginia, which gives Democratic candidates better chances to win in 10 of Virginia’s 11 congressional districts.
In a state that should have a substantial republican majority, Democrats remain in power with the votes of DC bureaucrats.
The retroceded areas of Arlington and Alexandria alone contribute roughly 250,000 DC votes in Virginia statewide elections that should belong to Washington, DC.
DC Bureaucrats hijacked Virginia… but we will restore it.
Arlington and Alexandria were always meant to be a part of DC.
That’s why I introduced the Make DC Square Again Act, because it’s a simple concept: DC = 🟥 pic.twitter.com/lPWcUoQ6Yg
— Congressman Rich McCormick, MBA MD (@RepMcCormick) April 22, 2026
