Trump places DC police under federal control

The move tests the balance between local self governance and federal power in Washington DC.

Trump places DC police under federal control

President Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place the DC Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control for 30 days, with Attorney General Pam Bondi taking command. Mayor Muriel Bowser said DC will follow the orders but framed the action as a reminder that residents deserve governance in their own city, while the police chief pledged cooperation with federal partners.

The 1973 Home Rule Act grants local authority but keeps a strong hand from Congress, which reviews laws and controls the budget. Critics view the move as a political tactic, while supporters say it is a step to curb crime. Rep. Jamie Raskin and other Democrats signaled plans to introduce measures to reverse the move and restore full home rule. The 30-day window can be extended only by a congressional vote. Even as DC crime statistics show violent crime has fallen in recent years, opponents say the takeover undermines local accountability.

The episode exposes a fault line between national power and local democracy. Invoking a long-standing rule to intervene in policing in a city that has pushed for statehood carries symbolic weight beyond any practical effect. The timing underscores how policing and governance have become tools in broader political fights.

For residents, the move raises questions about accountability and how policing decisions are made under federal direction. The 30-day clock creates pressure for Congress to act and ties local governance to national debates, including the ongoing statehood conversation and the city’s representation in Congress.

Highlights

The question now is how long a city can wait for a clear path to meaningful self government.