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2w ago

Trump Federalizes D.C. Police Department, Deploys National Guard as Local Leaders Resist

Maryland’s governor has refused to deploy his state guard, prompting separate scrutiny by courts and Congress over whether the operation represents a public-safety surge or federal overreach.

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FBI agents are followed by protesters in the U street neighborhood on August 13, 2025 in Washington, DC. U.S. (Photo by Andrew Leyden / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Overview

  • President Trump assumed command of the Metropolitan Police Department under the D.C. Home Rule Act and activated roughly 800 National Guard troops without invoking the Insurrection Act, with the Army stating only 100–200 soldiers would serve active support roles at any time.
  • Maryland Gov. Wes Moore declined to authorize his state’s National Guard for the mission, saying he will only deploy troops on operations he deems mission-critical and aligned with state priorities.
  • D.C. Police Union chair Greggory Pemberton welcomed federal assistance amid severe staffing shortages, while city officials and local unions explore potential legal challenges to the federal takeover.
  • Media figures and politicians have sharply divided over the deployment, with critics like Rachel Maddow calling it an authoritarian power grab and supporters such as Elie Honig and Scott Jennings defending it as a standard surge of resources.
  • Federal data showing violent crime at 30-year lows in Washington has intensified disputes over the necessity of the operation and driven expectations of upcoming court cases and congressional review.