Trump Assumes Federal Control of D.C. Police, Igniting Home Rule Debate
Trump Assumes Federal Control of D.C. Police, Igniting Home Rule Debate
President Donald Trump announced Monday, August 11, that he has placed the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under direct federal control, citing Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act. The unprecedented move, which sees Attorney General Pam Bondi taking command of the city’s police force, has immediately sparked widespread controversy and reignited calls for D.C. statehood.
Invoking powers he deemed “necessary and appropriate,” Trump stated, “We’re taking it back.” This action comes despite police statistics indicating a dramatic fall in violent crime in D.C. over the past two years, contradicting the President’s stated rationale of cracking down on crime.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, while confirming the city will comply with the order, expressed dismay, calling the action “unsettling and unprecedented.” Bowser emphasized that the move underscores the urgent need for D.C. residents to have full self-governance and advocated strongly for D.C. statehood. MPD Chief Pamela Smith affirmed the department’s cooperation with federal partners.
Section 740 of the Home Rule Act allows for presidential control of the MPD for “federal purposes” but includes a critical limitation: the emergency control will expire in 30 days unless extended by a joint resolution passed by both the Senate and the House. This sets up a potential congressional showdown.
The announcement triggered fierce condemnation from Democrats, who largely labeled it a power grab and a distraction from other issues. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries dismissed Trump’s rationale, stating, “Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low. Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department.” Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.’s non-voting representative, called it an “egregious assault on D.C. home rule” and reiterated her push for statehood. Conversely, Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Josh Hawley, lauded the decision, asserting it would help “CLEAN UP Washington, END the crime wave, and RESTORE the beauty of the greatest capital in the world.”
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.