WASHINGTON — A different kind of gridlock is headed to a key section of the nation’s capital.
DC Councilman Charles Allen (D-Ward 6) on Sunday warned his constituents in the Navy Yard area to brace for “major congestion” starting Monday, when thousands of naval employees begin returning to in-person work there.
“Requiring all in-person work without helping agencies plan = mess,” Allen wrote on X. “16,000+ employees all report in person. Expecting 8-10,000 cars, but have 4,473 parking spots.
“Avoid area if you can.”
Allen cited data from a memo he apparently received, though it’s not entirely clear from where it came.
President Trump, during his first day back in the White House, issued a memorandum demanding the heads of government agencies return their employees to in-person work “as soon as practicable.”
The Navy Yard, which is famous for its bustling nightlife scene, the Nationals Park baseball stadium and waterfront esplanades, is also home to the Washington Navy Yard administrative center for the US Navy.
Last week, the Navy confirmed that about 17,000 of its federal personnel, including at Naval Support Activity Washington, were expected to return to in-person work starting Monday and warned that its parking options had been filled to capacity.
“By preparing in advance and working together, we can navigate the challenges ahead,” Capt. Ryan Gaul, commanding officer of NSA Washington, said in a statement. “Let’s all plan ahead, demonstrate patience and understanding, and support one another to ensure a successful start to the workweek.
“We all have a part to play when it comes to safety,” Gaul said. “The installation is committed to ensuring everyone remains safe while on base.”
Allen, who was subject to a recall threat last year that fell flat amid elevated crime in the Navy Yard, urged locals to use public transportation instead of taking their vehicles to work in the nation’s capital — infamous for its political gridlock.
“There’s no math of parking lots and shuttles that work if everyone tries to drive,” he wrote on X. “Take WMATA [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]. Take VRE [Virginia Railway Express]. Take transit.”
There are about 4,473 parking spaces in the area, according to the Navy.
Authorities plan to send out an emergency alert once parking gets filled up and steer away vehicles still eyeing lots, according to the memo shared by Allen.
Officials estimate that between 8,000 to 10,000 drivers will attempt to enter the area starting around 5 a.m. Monday — about a three-fold increase in traffic, according to the memo.
Trump and Republicans broadly have taken aim at government workers who don’t show up in person regularly and have explored ways to cut down on underused buildings — as have some Democrats.
“I don’t think that the federal workforce has been served well by each agency doing their own thing when it comes to in-person work, ” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) told MSNBC last month. “And I don’t think it’s been served well by having buildings that are sitting virtually empty.”
Allen’s rep did not respond to a Post request for additional information Sunday.
