Washington, D.C. - President Donald Trump has initiated a federal takeover of the Washington, D.C., police department and deployed the National Guard, citing a "crime emergency" that he claims is overwhelming the nation's capital. The unprecedented move, which Trump says is necessary to "take our capital back," has been met with fierce opposition from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other local officials who argue the city's crime rates have actually fallen significantly.The President's Rationale and Executive Action
In a press conference, President Trump declared a public safety emergency and stated that D.C. has been "overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals." He announced the use of a rarely invoked provision of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (Section 740), which allows the president to assume temporary control of the city's police force for up to 30 days under emergency conditions.
To enforce this new policy, the president has deployed 800 National Guard troops and approximately 500 federal law enforcement officers from agencies including the FBI, ATF, and DEA. He has also assigned Attorney General Pam Bondi to oversee the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. The president's plan includes "getting rid of the slums" and addressing homelessness. He has already stated his intention to seek an extension of federal control beyond the initial 30 days.
The federalization has been met with strong condemnation from D.C. leadership. Mayor Muriel Bowser has called the move "unsettling and unprecedented," pointing to official crime statistics that show violent crime has fallen to a 30-year low since a peak in 2023. Bowser maintains that while she will work with federal partners, the police chief still reports to her. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has echoed these sentiments, calling Trump's actions "unnecessary and unlawful" and noting his office is "considering all of our options" to protect residents' rights.
The D.C. Attorney General also pointed out that the federal government could be more helpful by filling long-standing vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court rather than taking control of local law enforcement. This sentiment highlights a core issue for D.C.: while it has an elected government, its autonomy is limited, and Congress ultimately controls its budget and laws.
The move is seen as a significant test of presidential power and has raised concerns among critics about civil rights violations and the erosion of local autonomy.
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