President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is federalizing the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department to address a “public safety emergency,” a move that will give him complete law enforcement control over the district.
With the assistance of several other federal law enforcement agencies and the National Guard, Trump will have the capability to enforce the law across the capital like never before.
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Here’s what to know about the effort:
Who is responsible for the Metropolitan Police Department?
Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi will control MPD’s nearly 4,000-member staff and the approximately 3,200 sworn officers under it.
Bondi said Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole will be MPD’s interim federal commissioner and will take over for MPD Chief Pamela Smith, whose current role is unclear.
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Cole has mostly worked for federal law enforcement, spending over two decades serving with the DEA.
Trump appointed Cole to head the DEA last month. Before that, Cole served as Virginia’s secretary of public safety under Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA).
At the press conference announcing the MPD takeover, Bondi relayed a story Cole told her about a man who overdosed at the district’s Wharf with families around before he was saved with Narcan.
“No more of that. The president of the United States is going to clean up D.C., and we’re going to be there to help him, and we’re going to be successful,” Bondi concluded.
How long will Trump control the DC police?
The initial federalization of the MPD only gave Trump 48 hours of control, but he announced Monday that he had notified Congress, which extended the period to 30 days.
Trump’s emergency declaration met the law’s provision that the MPD could only be federalized if “special conditions of an emergency nature exist.”
However, Trump is restricted to the 30-day deadline unless Congress acts. To extend Trump’s control of the district, Congress would need to pass a joint resolution. This is unlikely because while Republicans control the House and Senate, Senate Democrats could filibuster and force the chamber to reach a 60-vote consensus.
Sixty votes for Trump in the Senate are also unlikely because seven Democrats would have to defect to join all Republicans, if all approve, to make the extension.
However, it’s unclear whether Trump could declare a new emergency after the 30-day period ends. A new emergency would make congressional approval unnecessary, but could face court challenges.
How can Trump control the DC police?
Under the Home Rule Act, the president can federalize the D.C. police if “special conditions of an emergency nature exist which require the use of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes.”
Trump declared a “public safety emergency” in the region in response to perceived rising crime. MPD crime statistics show crime is down, but many reports are unreliable because so many crimes are unreported and aren’t included in the total.
Trump’s stated emergency could face legal challenges. Justin Hansford, a professor at Howard University’s School of Law, told the Associated Press that Trump’s “emergency” perspective “would absolutely be challenged in court.”
Democratic D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb denied that there was an emergency in the region and said, “We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents.”
“The Administration’s actions are unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful,” Schwalb wrote in a post on X. “There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents.”
How will DC residents be affected?
An increased presence of DEA, FBI, Secret Service, Park Police, and National Guard agents has already been spotted around downtown D.C. About 800 more National Guard soldiers will be activated, but between 100 and 200 will be working with law enforcement at a given time, an Army spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
Before the federalization of the MPD, federal authorities prioritized tourist areas such as the National Mall, museums, parks across D.C., and other high-traffic areas. As a result of federalization, Trump can now enforce the law on local land instead of restricting it to federal property.
Residents will see a local impact. The Trump administration will have different law enforcement priorities than D.C.’s local government, particularly on illegal immigration. The MPD currently does not coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security or Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help deport illegal immigrants, but federalization could change that.
Trump’s executive order toward federalizing MPD, “DECLARING A CRIME EMERGENCY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,” mostly addressed how violent crime has hampered government functions and the safety of the region.
“These conditions are disgraceful anywhere, but particularly in the capital of our Nation and the seat of the Federal Government. Citizens, tourists, and Federal workers deserve peace and security, not fear and violence,” the order said.
Trump has also emphasized clearing out homeless encampments and homeless people in the district.
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“The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. “We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
Trump could roll out his total law enforcement effort in the district this week, especially given the short period of the MPD’s federalization.