President Trump announced a 30-day federal takeover of Washington D.C.'s police department, citing an increase in crime. He deployed 800 National Guard troops and threatened to expand similar actions to other cities. This move, invoking a section of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, places the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser acknowledged the president's authority but disputed his characterization of the city's safety and crime rates, calling his actions "unsettling and unprecedented." The District's attorney general also deemed the takeover "unlawful," vowing to protect residents' rights. Critics argue Trump's actions are an authoritarian overreach and not based on current crime data, which shows a decrease in violent crime.