Washington DC becomes state with Biden's approval

US President Joe Biden signed the bill, after lawmakers in both houses of Congress voted in recent weeks to reject changes to the Washington DC Council that revised the capital's penal code.

In November 2022, the Washington DC Council passed legislation that revised the capital's penal code, introducing new regulations that would reduce existing penalties for certain violent crimes, such as carjacking. The Council, vetoed by Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, passed the bill by re-voting and overcame the mayor's veto.

It was said that President Joe Biden, who advocated the "autonomous administration" of Washington DC and that it should be a state that makes its own decisions, could veto the said bill.

"However, I do not support some of the changes that the DC Council has put forward despite the Mayor's objection, such as lowering carjacking penalties. If the Senate wants to overturn the DC Council's decision, I will sign it," he said, adding that he would not veto the bill.

The city of Washington DC, named after the country's founder, George Washington, has a special status. The struggle to gain state status in the city with a population of 712,000, dominated by Democrats, has been on the agenda of the American public for years.

The debates became the agenda again after Biden passed the law.