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Trump Federalizes D.C. Police Department and Deploys National Guard

He invoked Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to declare a public safety emergency, extending federal control over the MPD as violent crime data show a 26% drop.

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President Donald Trump awaits the arrival of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the White House on August 8, 2025 in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump shows crime statistics as he delivers remarks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House August 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump announced he will use his authority to place the DC Metropolitan Police Department under federal control to assist in crime prevention in the nation’s capital. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • President Trump invoked Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to require the D.C. mayor to allocate Metropolitan Police services for federal purposes and placed the department under federal command with Attorney General Pam Bondi overseeing.
  • He declared a public safety emergency and activated roughly 500 federal law enforcement officers from agencies including the FBI, ATF and DEA alongside D.C. National Guard units to patrol the city.
  • The White House notified Congress that federal control of the MPD will extend beyond the initial 48-hour period permitted under the statute.
  • Local leaders, including Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council members, have challenged the takeover, citing a 26% year-over-year decline in violent crime and raising legal and operational objections.
  • The administration ordered the removal of homeless encampments from downtown streets with plans to relocate individuals to facilities outside the capital, prompting civil-liberties and logistical concerns.