Inauguration Day in Washington D.C. under Trump's administration marks the presence of law enforcement arrests and U.S. military personnel patrolling the streets.
In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump has invoked Section 740 of the 1973 Home Rule Act to take control of law enforcement functions in Washington, DC. This decision, justified by rising violent crime, has sparked a series of debates, legal concerns, and power struggles.
On August 11, 2025, Trump issued an executive order, citing Section 740, which allows the President to assume control of the District’s police in specific emergencies. The rationale behind this action was to protect federal government functions, essential workers, and ensure the smooth operation of the capital city, as violence disrupted its operations and endangered citizens and tourists.
The takeover included approximately 800 D.C. National Guardsmen and hundreds more from other states, alongside 500 federal law enforcement agents who instituted street patrols and checkpoints. However, critics argue that crime statistics from the city and federal sources actually showed a downward trend in violent crime, contradicting the White House's justification.
Legal experts have raised questions about potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of federal military personnel in domestic law enforcement. Despite the complexities of its application in DC due to federal jurisdiction, concerns persist about aggressive policing tactics with limited local accountability or oversight.
The surge of federal law enforcement has sparked concerns among residents like Washington native Sheina Taylor, who fears potential racial profiling. Resident Jeraod Tyre, who has lived in the city for 15 years, is wary of the National Guard troops due to their lack of local knowledge compared to the city's regular police force.
Despite the tensions, Mayor Muriel Bowser has pledged to work alongside federal officials while insisting the police chief remains in charge. This is not the first time Bowser has stood in public opposition to Trump's law enforcement decisions, having fended off his initial plans for a military parade and confronted multi-agency floods of federal law enforcement during anti-police brutality protests in 2020.
Notably, carjackings dropped about 50% in 2024 and are down again this year, suggesting a decrease in violent crime. However, Trump has referred to the city as lawless without substantiation. The charges against the 23 individuals arrested overnight include homicide, drunk driving, gun and drug crimes, and subway fare evasion.
This is the first time a president has used the law's Section 740 to take over Washington’s police during emergencies. The law allows Trump to maintain control for up to 30 days, with potential extension requiring Congressional approval. As the situation unfolds, the debates around constitutionality, local authority, and public safety continue to resonate.
References: 1. The Washington Post 2. CNN 3. The New York Times
- The debates surrounding President Trump's invocation of Section 740 of the 1973 Home Rule Act to take control of Washington, DC's law enforcement functions are not only centered around rising violent crime, but also extend to politics, general news, and crime-and-justice.
- The takeover of Washington, DC's law enforcement by federal forces has led to concerns among residents about potential racial profiling, aggressive policing tactics, and the lack of local accountability or oversight, making it a topic of discussion in the realm of war-and-conflicts, politics, general news, and crime-and-justice.
