Trump deploys National Guard to take over D.C.’s police department

President Trump yesterday announced plans to deploy National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and place the city’s police department under federal control, marking an unprecedented attempt by the US government to take charge of America’s capital city.

In a news conference at the White House, Trump said ~800 D.C. National Guard troops will be deployed to the city, with additional active-duty military troops on standby if needed.

The rationale

The President invoked the Home Rule Act—which allows the White House to federalize the D.C. police when an emergency arises—by declaring a “crime emergency” in America’s capital city, citing recent attacks on political staffers along with D.C.’s elevated violent crime rates compared to other major cities.

• In addition to cracking down on crime, Trump said National Guard troops will be removing homeless encampments and “getting rid of the slums” across D.C.
• AG Pam Bondi will temporarily oversee the D.C. police department, while DEA Administrator Terry Cole will serve as interim federal police commissioner, according to Trump.

Local leaders strongly oppose the move. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb called Trump’s actions “unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful,” while the district’s nonvoting congressional delegate framed the move as “an historic assault on D.C. home rule.”

• Critics of Trump’s “crime emergency” justification point to the latest DOJ statistics, which show violent crime in D.C. fell by ~35% across the board last year to reach its lowest level in 30+ years, including significant declines for murder, robberies, and armed assaults.

Looking ahead…Legal experts say Trump’s federal takeover of D.C. police under the Home Rule Act can only last 30 days, after which he needs approval from the House and Senate to retain control. Trump yesterday also suggested he may soon try to take similar action in other US cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Baltimore, and Oakland.