Trump Asserts Federal Control Over DC Police, Deploys National Guard

The streets of Washington D.C. witnessed an unprecedented shift in authority this week as former President Donald Trump, leveraging the District’s unique federal status, assumed direct control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Declaring a crime emergency despite local data showing declining rates, Trump also ordered 800 National Guard troops onto D.C. streets, effectively stripping elected city leaders of command over their own police force.

This dramatic federal intervention, echoing tactics used elsewhere, comes even as official D.C. police statistics cited by the Washington Post indicate violent crime has decreased for two consecutive years, with murders also trending downward. The Trump administration had already deployed federal agents, including FBI personnel, to assist local police with carjackings and violent crime prior to the full takeover. Citing D.C.’s non-state status, Trump invoked emergency powers to federalize the police force for 30 days, appointing Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief Terry Cole, sworn in just last month, to lead the department.

Why Did Trump Federalize DC Police?

Trump has consistently advocated for a muscular law enforcement approach. At a recent White House press conference, he justified the move, stating criminals “only understand force,” adding, “They fight back until you knock the hell out of them… It’s becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness.” An anonymous source familiar with White House discussions suggested a recent attack on a former U.S. DOGE Service employee, leading to teen arrests, was a catalyst. The administration also announced plans spearheaded by appointed Attorney General Jeanine Pirro to overhaul D.C.’s juvenile justice system, proposing to lower the age for charging youth as adults from 16 to 14 for violent crimes.

Local Leaders Decry “Unlawful” Power Grab

D.C. officials vehemently contested the administration’s justification. Mayor Muriel Bowser repeatedly highlighted that violent crime is down 26% and murders have decreased by 12% compared to the previous year. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a scathing statement, calling the takeover “unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful.” He emphasized that “violent crime hit a 30-year low last year and is still dropping,” vowing to explore all legal avenues to protect residents’ rights. Their objections underscore a fundamental clash between federal assertion of power and local autonomy, fueled by disputed interpretations of the crime situation.

Must Know

1. What authority allows the federal takeover of DC police? Washington D.C. is a federal district, not a state. This unique status grants Congress, and by extension the executive branch in certain emergency contexts, broader authority to intervene in local affairs compared to states. Trump cited this structure and declared an emergency to justify the 30-day takeover.
2. What does the data say about DC crime rates? According to official D.C. police statistics reported by the Washington Post, violent crime has declined for two consecutive years. Mayor Bowser states violent crime is down 26% and murders down 12% year-over-year. D.C. Attorney General Schwalb noted violent crime recently hit a 30-year low.
3. Who is leading the DC police now? Trump appointed Terry Cole, the current Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), to lead the Metropolitan Police Department for the duration of the federal control period. Cole was sworn in as DEA chief just last month.
4. What changes to juvenile justice are proposed? Appointed Attorney General Jeanine Pirro announced a proposal to lower the age at which juveniles can be charged as adults in D.C. from 16 to 14 for certain violent crimes. Current D.C. law already allows federal prosecutors to charge 16- and 17-year-olds as adults for specific violent offenses.
5. How are local DC officials responding? Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb strongly oppose the move, disputing the administration’s claims of a crime crisis. Schwalb labeled the actions “unlawful” and stated the city is exploring all options to challenge the takeover and protect residents’ rights.

The federal seizure of the DC police force represents a profound test of governance in the nation’s capital, pitting claims of urgent necessity against local data and fierce opposition from elected leaders. While National Guard patrols now walk D.C. streets under federal command, the legitimacy of the emergency declaration and the future of local control remain fiercely contested, setting a pivotal precedent for the District and potentially beyond. This unfolding situation demands close scrutiny as constitutional boundaries and public safety priorities collide.