President Donald Trump announced on Monday a significant escalation of federal authority in Washington, D.C., placing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deploying the National Guard to address what he describes as rampant crime and disorder in the nation’s capital.
Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a provision never used before, to temporarily federalize the D.C. police for up to 48 hours without congressional approval, extendable to 30 days with notification to Congress.
He appointed Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Terry Cole to lead the Metropolitan Police Department during this period.
Additionally, 800 National Guard troops will be deployed to the city within the coming week, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating, “You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week.”
Trump also indicated the potential deployment of active-duty military, saying, “If necessary, we’re going to move service members directly to join the guardsmen.”
The move follows Trump’s claims of a public safety emergency, despite Department of Justice data showing violent crime in D.C. dropped to a 30-year low in 2024.
Trump cited recent violent incidents, including an assault on a Trump administration staffer, and expressed frustration with the city’s condition, stating, “If our capital is dirty, our whole country is dirty, and they don’t respect us.”
Critics, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, argue the federal takeover is unnecessary, with Bowser noting, “Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false.”
She emphasized that violent crime has decreased since 2023 and suggested funding prosecutors would be more effective than deploying the National Guard.
Trump’s decision appears driven by his fixation on D.C.’s visible homelessness and litter, with a White House official stating the president “has seen the filth and has seen the squalor himself.”
His blunt demand to displace homeless encampments, saying, “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital,” has drawn criticism for its harsh tone and lack of a clear plan to address the root causes of homelessness.
Critics view the move as a potential overreach, raising concerns about the erosion of D.C.’s limited self-governance under the 1973 Home Rule Act.
Trump hinted at extending similar measures to other cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, signaling a broader law enforcement agenda.