President Trump Assumes Control Over DC Police, Invokes Home Rule Act Amid Violent Crime Surge
The DC National Guard was deployed in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, following President Trump’s announcement the day prior about mobilizing the guard troops and assuming federal control over the city’s police department. This move is justified by a public safety emergency after an assault on a former government worker.
As a district, not a state, Washington, D.C.’s unique status allows the president to have more leeway in directing military forces and various federal authorities within the city. The deployment of the DC National Guard falls under the President’s authority, as they report only to him.
Trump’s decision to assume control over the police department relies on temporary powers granted under the Home Rule Act of 1973, a law designed to balance local self-governance with federal oversight in the capital. The president can take control of the police for up to 30 days without congressional approval, but any extension requires legislative action.
The announcement came following an assault on a former Department of Government Efficiency employee during an attempted carjacking on August 3. Although Trump has often criticized escalating violent crime in Washington, this year’s overall crime rate is lower compared to the previous year.
Trump stated on his Truth Social platform that “Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today!” The declaration was made concurrently with administration lawyers being present for a trial regarding the legality of Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in California amid protests related to immigration raids in Los Angeles.
Key aspects to understand about this unprecedented move and Trump’s authority in Washington, D.C.:
1. Washington, D.C.’s governance is regulated by the Home Rule Act of 1973, granting Congress oversight while allowing for limited self-governance by residents.
2. The act empowers the federal government to seize control of the city’s police force in emergency situations for up to 48 hours if the president deems special conditions requiring their use for federal purposes exist.
3. This is the first time a president has assumed direct control of the city’s police department under this act.
4. Extending the takeover requires Trump to formally notify relevant congressional committees. Any control lasting more than 30 days necessitates congressional approval, which is unlikely given current political divisions in Congress.
5. Trump has expressed intentions to take similar actions in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles due to their crime rates. However, the federalization of DC’s Metropolitan Police Department relies on the Home Rule Act, making it a unique situation that may not be easily replicated in other cities or states.
6. It remains unclear what specific actions Trump intends for other cities. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that “the president wants to see all of our nation’s cities be safe. Starting with our nation’s capital is a great place to begin, and it should serve as a model for the rest of the country.”
7. New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago have experienced crime declines in 2025, while historically high-crime cities like Philadelphia, St. Louis, Baltimore, and Detroit have shown substantial reductions in violent crime rates in previous years.
8. The legality of deploying the National Guard outside of Washington, D.C. remains under legal scrutiny following their deployment, along with several hundred US Marines, in Los Angeles last June.
9. Questions persist regarding the limits of federal law enforcement’s role in protecting federal buildings and employees within Washington, D.C.
10. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and leaders of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department were not informed about Trump’s intentions prior to his announcement, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
11. Bowser described the move as “unsettling and unprecedented” during a press conference on Monday, while DC Police Union chairman Greggory Pemberton agreed that “something needs to be done.”
12. Trump activated 800 soldiers from the DC National Guard, with up to 200 assigned to support law enforcement, according to the Defense Department. Their roles include administrative and logistical duties, as well as providing a physical presence in support of law enforcement.
13. Beyond the police department, the president holds broad jurisdiction over Washington, D.C.’s affairs, with numerous federal law enforcement agencies based in the city reporting directly to the administration. Federal agencies have already increased their presence in various areas of the city since last weekend.
14. Despite Trump’s assertion that crime is “out of control,” data shows a decline in violent crime within Washington, D.C. since its 2023 spike, with two consecutive years of improvement. The number of reported homicides dropped from 274 in 2023 (the highest since 1997) to 187 in 2024 and is on track for a further decrease this year, with 99 reported as of Sunday. Carjackings have also followed a similar trend, experiencing a decline from 959 in 2023 to around 500 in 2024 and continuing to fall in 2025.