President Trump has claimed authority over Washington, D.C. police and deploying the National Guard, fuelling debates about federal authority and control at local levels.
In a surprise move on August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a federalization of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deployed 800 National Guard soldiers into the city. The option under Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act allows the President to act into emergencies in the capital.
Trump referenced recent violence, such as an attack on a federal employee, to support this action. Local statistics are telling a different tale, however — violent crime in D.C. has dropped 26% since last year and is at its lowest point in 30 years.
The move has triggered strong response from city authorities. The action was criticized by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser as a federal overreach. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton termed it an “egregious assault on D.C. home rule.” Critics argue that the interference goes against local democracy and can be a precedent with the potential of being a risky one.
The putting of National Guard troops in civilian police work has also raised concerns about the militarization of law enforcement and civil liberties. People are not certain what this means in terms of everyday policing and public safety.
This takeover by the federal government includes ongoing tensions between federal authority in Washington, D.C. and local government. As events continue to unfold, legal controversies and political fights are expected to heighten.