President Donald Trump announced Monday that he’s placing Washington, D.C. police “below direct federal management” — invoking Part 740 of D.C.’s House Rule Act, which offers with management of the town’s police drive.
“We’re taking it again. Below the authorities vested in me because the President of the USA, I am formally invoking Part 740 of the District of Columbia House Rule Act. You understand what that’s — and putting the D.C. Metropolitan Police Division below direct federal management,” Trump stated.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday stated D.C. will comply with Trump’s orders, however stated the transfer underscored the necessity for D.C. to make its personal selections and advocated for D.C. statehood. Metropolitan Police Division Chief Pamela Smith stated the division will work with federal companions, because it has previously.
“Whereas this motion in the present day is unsettling and unprecedented, I am unable to say that, given a few of the rhetoric of the previous, that we’re completely stunned,” Bowser stated.
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks as Metropolitan Police Division Chief Pamela A. Smith listens at a press convention after President Donald Trump introduced a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Division on the Wilson Constructing, August 11, 2025 in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Pictures
Trump has long threatened to take control of D.C., saying he desires to crack down on violent crime within the district though police statistics present that previously two years, violent crime in Washington, D.C., has fallen dramatically.
D.C.’s Home Rule Act of 1973 permits D.C. residents to elect a mayor, members of D.C. Council and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. The act “is the results of the continuing push by District residents for management of their very own native affairs,” according to D.C. Council.
Nonetheless, below the act, there’s congressional oversight. Congress opinions all laws handed by D.C. Council earlier than it may change into legislation and has authority over D.C.’s funds. Moreover, the president appoints D.C.’s judges and D.C. has no voting illustration in Congress.
President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters within the James Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP through Getty Pictures
Part 740 of the House Rule Act provides the president the flexibility to make use of D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Division for “federal functions” that the president “could deem needed and acceptable.” On Monday, Trump stated Lawyer Normal Pam Bondi is taking command of D.C.’s police drive.
Part 740 of the DC House Rule Act does have some limitations. The emergency management will expire in 30 days, until the Senate and Home enact into legislation a joint decision to increase it.
Requested in regards to the 30-day timeframe on ABC News Live , U.S. Lawyer for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated the president has despatched a “actual clear message” in regards to the path he desires to take D.C.
“I feel on the finish of 30 days, he’ll make the precise resolution as to what he’s going to do at that time going ahead,” she stated.
Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton — the non-voting delegate to the Home of Representatives from Washington, D.C. — known as Trump’s resolution “an egregious assault on D.C. house rule.”
“There are greater than 700,000 D.C. residents, and they’re worthy and able to governing themselves,” Norton, a Democrat, stated in an announcement Monday. “The last word resolution to make sure D.C. has management of its personal sources is passage of my D.C. statehood invoice, which would offer D.C. the identical protections the states take pleasure in.”
She says the transfer helps justify the necessity to go laws she has repeatedly reintroduced to ascertain statehood within the District of Columbia.
DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks at a press convention on Capitol Hill Washington, DC on March 10, 2025.
Craig Hudson for The Washington Put up through Getty Pictures
Home Judiciary Committee Rating Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin, in an announcement, stated he shall be introducing a decision within the Home, pursuant to the District of Columbia House Rule Act of 1973, to reverse “this plainly ridiculous” state of native emergency and “restore full house rule powers to the mayor, council and folks of the District of Columbia.”
It is unclear when the Maryland Democrat would introduce this laws. The Home continues to be on their August recess, however he might convey it up throughout a pro-forma session, which might imply he doesn’t have to attend till subsequent month to introduce it.
On Capitol Hill, many Democrats have stated the strikes are an influence seize by the president and a distraction from different issues, reminiscent of Trump’s involvement with the Jeffrey Epstein files.
“Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low. Donald Trump has no foundation to take over the native police division. And 0 credibility on the difficulty of legislation and order. Get misplaced,” Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a post on X.
Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said in a post on X that “Trump’s resolution to take over the DC police is not about public security” and is “one other try and distract from Trump’s corruption and suppress dissent.”
Sen. Patty Murray stated Trump’s resolution was a distraction.
“He is a pathetic wannabe dictator who desires to distract you from his connection to the Epstein information, skyrocketing prices, and his weak job numbers,” the Washington Democrat said in a post on X.
Republicans have lauded the announcement, claiming that Trump is “making D.C. protected once more.”
“President Trump is RIGHT. We won’t permit crime to destroy our Nation’s Capital,” Home Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on X. “Each American ought to be capable of go to and luxuriate in Washington, D.C. with out concern. Home Republicans help this effort to CLEAN UP Washington, END the crime wave, and RESTORE the fantastic thing about the best capital on the planet.”
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley applauded Trump’s resolution, saying on X, “Make DC stunning — and SAFE — once more!”
ABC Information’ Jack Date, Isabella Murray and John Parkinson contributed to this report.
