Why losing Washington would be an administrative crisis

What happens if Washington, D.C. suddenly disappears and the land returns to its pre-city state?

The scenario centres on rebuilding federal administration and finding a temporary seat of government, with disagreement over how to preserve the independence associated with a federal district.

In the scenario, Washington disappears in 2000 while the rest of the modern United States remains. Its loss removes an administrative centre as well as political offices, creating a problem of reconstructing federal operations. Suggestions to move the capital to New York or Philadelphia lead to a debate over the purpose of a separate federal district. The concern is independence from individual states, part of the [historical rationale for a separate federal district](https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S8-C17-1-1/ALDE_00001079/). A temporary seat of government and the recovery of lost records are proposed as practical issues. The exchange does not establish a legal requirement to choose any particular replacement city.