Unprecedented Move: Trump Takes Over DC’s Police Department Under Home Rule Act Amid Rising Crime Concerns

In a surprising development, the DC National Guard began deploying within Washington on Tuesday, following Presidential announcements of troop deployment and federal control over the city’s police department due to an alleged public safety emergency stemming from a violent assault.

On Tuesday evening, CNN spotted five armored personnel carriers near the Washington Monument. Notably, the DC National Guard is directly accountable to the President of the United States, owing to Washington’s unique district status as opposed to that of a state, providing the federal government with greater authority in managing troops and various federal agencies within the city.

Trump’s decision to seize control over the DC police department draws upon temporary powers granted under the Home Rule Act of 1973, allowing local self-governance while balancing federal oversight in the capital. Although the president can assume control for up to 30 days with congressional notice, any extension beyond this period requires congressional approval and subsequent legislation.

The president’s announcement followed an assault on a former Department of Government Efficiency employee during an attempted carjacking on August 3. While Trump has frequently criticized the alleged surge in violent crime in Washington, current crime statistics reveal that overall crime numbers in 2021 are lower than those reported in 2020.

On Monday, Trump declared through his Truth Social platform, “Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today!” This announcement coincided with administration lawyers appearing in court for the initial day of a trial concerning the legality of Trump’s National Guard deployment in California during June, in response to protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles.

Here’s an overview of Trump’s authority and the potential implications of this unprecedented move in Washington:

The capital operates under the Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants Congress oversight and power over the city, while allowing residents limited self-governance. The act provides emergency powers to the federal government, enabling the president to take control of the city’s police force for up to 48 hours if deemed necessary during times of emergency.

This is the first instance in history where a president has seized control of the city’s police force. Extending the takeover beyond 48 hours necessitates formal notification to the chairs and ranking members of congressional committees handling DC affairs, with any control lasting more than 30 days requiring congressional approval and subsequent legislation, an unlikely scenario given current political gridlock in Congress.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and leaders of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department were reportedly unaware of Trump’s intentions prior to his announcement, according to three sources speaking with CNN. During a press conference on Monday, Bowser described the move as “unsettling and unprecedented,” suggesting that Trump’s perception of DC may have been influenced by his Covid-era experiences during his first term when crime rates spiked.

The DC Police Union chairman, Greggory Pemberton, expressed support for the move, agreeing that action was necessary. Simultaneously, 800 soldiers from the DC National Guard were activated, with up to 200 assigned to assist law enforcement, according to the Defense Department. Their roles include administrative and logistical duties as well as providing a visible presence in support of law enforcement agencies.

Beyond the police department, Trump wields significant influence over the city’s affairs, given the numerous federal law enforcement agencies headquartered within it, including the FBI, which operate directly under his administration. On Tuesday evening, CNN observed guard members near the National Mall and noted the presence of Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside Union Station in Washington DC.

Over the weekend, Trump redeployed officers from various federal agencies, including approximately 130 FBI agents, to patrol alongside DC police in multiple neighborhoods. Despite Trump’s claims that crime is “out of control,” data shows a decrease in violent crime since its peak in 2023, with two consecutive years of improvement.

There were 274 homicides reported in 2023, the highest number since 1997. However, there was a 32% drop in 2024 to 187 and a further 12% reduction so far in 2025, with 99 homicides reported as of Sunday. Carjackings followed a similar trend, with the number dropping from 959 in 2023 to around 500 in 2024, and decreasing further in 2025, recording just 188 incidents as of Saturday. July marked the lowest monthly carjacking total since May 2020.

Likewise, cities such as Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Detroit – known for historically high homicide rates – have demonstrated substantial declines in violent crime during 2024 or 2025 or both.