Residing in Washington for three decades, I assert that the city doesn't require military presence.
In a surprising turn of events, President Donald Trump has unilaterally seized control of the Washington D.C. Police Department, a move that has sparked political controversy and debate. This action, justified under the guise of addressing rising violent crime and public safety issues, has temporarily overridden the city's Home Rule Act, placing the police department under federal command for up to 30 days without congressional approval, with a possible extension requiring Congress[1][3][5].
This intervention has significantly altered the city’s governance, intensifying debates over federal versus local authority. Since D.C. is not a state and lacks voting representation in Congress, it remains subject to direct congressional oversight and presidential authority in emergencies, a condition Trump has capitalized on[4].
In parallel, Trump’s executive orders have targeted Smithsonian Institution funding, including museums that focus on African American history and women’s history. These orders aim to reinstate Confederate monuments removed from federal property, explicitly targeting historical narratives portrayed in the Smithsonian museums, which Trump has accused of “dividing Americans based on race.” This jeopardizes the preservation and representation of Black history and broader inclusive narratives in the nation’s capital[2].
The federal takeover of Washington D.C.'s police department is not about crime but power, as Trump is using it to demonstrate that he can, not to free the city from "crime, bloodshed, bedlam, squalor, and worse." This move is seen as a crucial step towards building strongman rule, as it would provide Trump with a potent domestic fighting force[6].
Meanwhile, the city of Washington, D.C. has been graded first in financial health out of 73 cities in a 2023 report by the non-partisan think tank Truth in Accounting. Rates of violent crimes in the city are at a 30-year low, and the city has a surplus of $2.5 billion, with $9,000 for every citizen, and meets virtually 100% of its pension and healthcare obligations[7].
The political backlash, particularly from Democrats, has renewed calls for D.C. statehood to ensure greater local autonomy and prevent future presidential overreach. The "big beautiful budget bill" recently passed by Congress, however, punishes Washington, D.C. with a $1.1 billion funding cut, affecting housing, sanitation, public schools, transportation, police, and emergency services[8].
Trump has described Washington, D.C. as "a national disgrace," "horribly run," "graffiti stained," and "too dangerous" to visit. In response, Mayor Muriel Bowser sought the President's good graces by removing the "Black Lives Matter" words on H Street facing the White House, but she is protesting the executive order, to no avail so far[9].
The city, fondly referred to by the funk band Parliament in 1975 as a "chocolate city," faces a tense period as the future of its governance and cultural-historical narratives hang in the balance. The reduction in funding to key museums like the National Museum of African American History and Culture risks the longevity and upkeep of Black history preservation in the Smithsonian[2].
References: 1. The Washington Post 2. The New York Times 3. CNN 4. Politico 5. The Hill 6. The Guardian 7. The Wall Street Journal 8. USA Today 9. The Washington Post
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