D.C. Councilmember and Democratic mayoral nominee Janeese Lewis George is urging the District to slow down efforts to legalize fully autonomous vehicles, citing concerns about potential job displacement and worker protections as Waymo prepares to bring its driverless ride-hailing service to Washington, D.C. A video of the Waymo experience can be seen below.
Lewis George, who represents Ward 4 on the D.C. Council, shared her concerns on social media following Waymo’s official debut in the District. “DC is facing a jobs crisis,” Lewis George wrote. “Rushing the legalization of autonomous vehicles is irresponsible given the anticipated AI-related job displacement and disruptions that put countless workers at risk.”
Lewis George said the District should be able to embrace emerging technology while also protecting workers and focusing on public safety. “DC must be a leader in welcoming new technology while supporting workers and prioritizing safety,” she wrote. “Let’s get this right and not rush Waymo legislation this year.”
Waymo announced in March 2025 that its fully autonomous ride-hailing service, Waymo One, was coming to Washington, D.C. The company said at the time that it would work with local communities, emergency responders, and policymakers as it prepared for operations in the District.
Waymo One uses fully autonomous vehicles without a human driver and was already operating in cities including San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin when the D.C. expansion was announced.
More recently, the Washington Business Journal reported that Waymo committed “tens of millions” of dollars toward three automotive depots in the District and was targeting an early 2027 rollout of driverless vehicles.
Lewis George’s comments put the future of autonomous vehicle legislation among the technology and workforce issues likely to receive increased attention as Waymo moves closer to launching fully driverless service in the nation’s capital.
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