DC is notoriously slimy with taxes. It's not surprising that they would do something like this. For example, DC tries to trick VA and MD based businesses into

DC is notoriously slimy with taxes. It's not surprising that they would do something like this. For example, DC tries to trick VA and MD based businesses into paying corporate taxes in DC if they work with the federal government based on the unsound lie that because the federal government is based in DC any business that works with the Feds must pay DC taxes. Even if that business never sets foot in DC, or works with a single federal person in DC. Thankfully VA and MD don't recognize this twisted logic.