Department of Employment Services Director Unique Morris–Hughes violated several D.C. regulations when she approved tens of thousands of dollars in public funds for food and entertainment for all-staff events, according to findings from the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.
In a report dated June 2025, the OIG found that Morris-Hughes approved $69,000 in “questionable expenses” for catering and flashy entertainment including go-go bands, DJs, emcees, motivational speakers, and acrobats among other purchases for her annual professional development events in 2022 and 2023. (Food and entertainment are generally not allowable expenses without a waiver under D.C.’s municipal regulations.) The OIG also cited Supervisory Contract Specialist Alvin Stith for the illegal approvals. The OIG launched its investigation following City Paper’s reporting on DOES’ extravagant 2023 party.
The 2022 event, for example, featured an appearance from Real Housewives of the Potomac star Gizelle Bryant. Morris-Hughes previously told City Paper that DOES did not pay Bryant, but the cost of the event planning contract was nearly $100,000, and included $18,000 for speakers, $1,500 for a DJ, $8,000 for an emcee, and $10,000 for “entertainment services.” Experience Unlimited provided the musical entertainment for $3,750.
In 2023, DOES booked the Backyard Band to perform, along with DJ EZ Street as emcee and a talk from Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Dawes…