RFK Stadium Land Transfer Faces Uncertainty in Federal Spending Bill

Congressional negotiations over a short-term spending bill could determine whether Washington, D.C., gains control of the RFK Stadium site for redevelopment, including a potential new Commanders stadium.

A provision in Congress's proposed spending bill would transfer control of the RFK Stadium site from the federal government to Washington, D.C., enabling potential redevelopment.
The Washington Commanders, whose lease in Maryland expires in 2027, are exploring the RFK site, Maryland, and Virginia as options for a new stadium, with 2030 as a target for completion.
The inclusion of the RFK site transfer in the bill follows lobbying efforts by Commanders owner Josh Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, as well as bipartisan support in Congress.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has praised the measure as a step toward revitalizing the 190-acre site, which could include housing, green space, and possibly a stadium, but no federal funding is involved in the project.
Opposition from House Republicans, amplified by President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk, has cast uncertainty on the bill's passage, with critics spreading misinformation about $3 billion in federal funding for a stadium, which the legislation explicitly prohibits.