WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — After months of silence and incomplete answers, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has acknowledged that her office failed to follow its own travel policy regarding a $61,930 trip to the Middle East, a visit that was funded by the government of Qatar.
The revelation came during an on-camera interview with 7News I-Team Investigator Scott Taylor, who had been pressing for transparency on the matter since last year.
Unapproved Trip Sparks Questions
The trip in question took place in 2023, when Mayor Bowser and four of her staff members traveled to the Middle East. The journey, which cost nearly $62,000, was paid for by the Qatari government—a foreign entity. That in itself is not illegal, but according to a 2015 memorandum authored by Bowser’s own administration, such foreign-funded travel requires formal approval and documentation, including a donation agreement approved by two D.C. officials before the travel occurs.
Despite that clear policy, 7News discovered that no such agreement existed at the time of the trip. When pressed, Mayor Bowser admitted that the process had not been followed as required.
“We should have,” Bowser told 7News. “But that donation agreement has been completed.”
Missing Paperwork and Policy Violations
The mayor’s office has claimed that a March 2024 letter from Qatar fulfills the necessary documentation requirements. However, according to 7News and public records, that letter lacks several key elements required under the city’s own policy. These include:
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Signatures from two D.C. officials
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Answers to questions about the nature of the donation
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A formal invoice or financial summary
Despite these missing components, Bowser’s team presented the letter as if it retroactively satisfied the policy guidelines.
“We typically do the donation agreements according to our best practices,” Bowser said when questioned about the letter’s shortcomings.
When Taylor asked if this meant her office had made a mistake, Bowser responded simply:
“It was.”
Conflicting Statements from City Officials
In addition to the missing paperwork, 7News also pointed out inconsistencies in how the trip was initially described to the public. On two separate occasions, the mayor’s communications director provided inaccurate information, claiming the trip was paid for by the city, not Qatar.
When asked why her spokesperson had misinformed the press twice, Bowser replied,
“She must have had a misunderstanding.”
The mayor’s admission raises broader concerns about accountability and transparency, particularly when foreign governments are involved in funding official travel by high-ranking city leaders.
Ethics Concerns and Investigative Oversight
Scott Taylor concluded the interview by asking whether Mayor Bowser or her office is currently under any ethics investigation related to the Qatar trip or other undocumented travel.
“No, I’m not. No,” Bowser stated.
To date, there has been no public confirmation of an ethics probe into this specific incident. However, watchdog groups and political observers have pointed to the need for greater oversight, particularly when foreign interests are involved in city affairs.
A Pattern of Avoidance?
The 7News I-Team had been pursuing answers about the trip for months prior to the mayor’s acknowledgment. During that time, city officials provided either incomplete responses or no response at all. The lack of timely transparency, combined with the eventual admission of a policy breach, has intensified scrutiny on Bowser’s international travel practices.
In 2023, the mayor visited multiple countries under the banner of economic development and international partnerships. But unlike trips fully funded by the District or private organizations with pre-approved agreements, the Qatar trip’s financial arrangement remained concealed until investigative reporting forced clarification.
What the Rules Actually Require
Under D.C.’s 2015 donation policy, which Mayor Bowser herself introduced, any donations of goods, services, or funding from outside entities must be:
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Pre-approved
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Documented through a formal agreement
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Signed by two authorized District officials
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Transparent about value, purpose, and limitations
These rules are designed to protect against conflicts of interest, foreign influence, and improper spending, particularly where foreign governments are concerned.
The lack of compliance in this case has prompted calls for the mayor to re-examine and enforce her own policy more rigorously, and for D.C. Council to consider new mechanisms to monitor executive travel and financial disclosures.
Moving Forward: Calls for Transparency
Although Bowser admitted to the oversight and maintained that the issue has been rectified, many critics say the damage to public trust has already been done.
“A $61,000 trip paid for by a foreign government, with no paperwork filed until months later? That’s exactly why we have transparency laws,” said one local good governance advocate.
As D.C. continues to position itself on the global stage, voters and city officials alike may soon demand greater clarity, consistency, and accountability—especially when the line between diplomacy and discretion becomes blurred.
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