A Sudden Turn in Law Enforcement
On August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump made an extraordinary move. He placed the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. under federal control and announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops to the streets of the capital. This action raised eyebrows, partly because crime in D.C. has been declining, with violent crime and homicides at their lowest levels in decades.
Why Now? A Triggering Incident
The decision appeared to be triggered by a widely circulated image of a former DOGE Service employee, battered during an attempted carjacking. Trump used that image to argue that crime in the city had spiraled out of control. Just days before, FBI, DEA, ICE, ATF, and other federal agents had already begun patrolling D.C. streets, signaling a growing federal presence.
How This Was Possible: The Home Rule Act
Because D.C. is not a state, the Home Rule Act grants the president unusual authority. Under Section 740, he can seize control of the city’s police under “special emergency conditions” for up to 30 days, a window that can only be extended by Congress. Trump invoked that authority despite criticism that the rationale is weak and perhaps politically motivated.
Local Leaders Push Back
Mayor Muriel Bowser may have complied, but she called the move “unsettling and unprecedented.” She disputed Trump’s depiction of rampant crime, citing data showing criminality has dropped significantly. The D.C. Council condemned the takeover as unwarranted and unlawful. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said there was no true emergency to justify federal intervention.
A Forceful Vision, or Overreach?
At a press conference, Trump vowed a raw and muscular approach: “They fight back until you knock the hell out of them,” he said, referring to criminals. He framed the move as a cleanup effort targeting slums, crime, graffiti, and even homelessness so visitors would see a pristine capital.
Federal Forces Flood the City
Under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, about 100 to 200 guard members will support law enforcement through round-the-clock logistical backing and visible deterrence. Plans exist to bring in other National Guard units if needed. Local authorities were urged to collaborate, but institutions such as the D.C. police union warned against military overreach. Constitutional groups also raised alarms over civil liberty risks.
What Comes Next?
With the takeover lasting up to 30 days unless extended by Congress, legal challenges may arise. Meanwhile, Trump signaled similar interventions in other major cities like Chicago and New York, though those lack the unique legal framework that D.C. offers.
