Trump declares National Guard mobilization in Washington to tackle the "security predicament"
In an unprecedented move, U.S. President Donald Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act on August 11, 2025, placing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of the nation's capital under federal control for up to 30 days. This decision was made due to a perceived "crime emergency" in the city, characterised by a surge in violent crimes, including high-profile murders of embassy staffers and federal workers.
The Home Rule Act of 1973 established limited self-government for Washington D.C., allowing the local council and mayor to govern the city but with oversight from Congress. Section 740 of the Act allows the president to assume temporary control of the MPD "for federal purposes" if deemed necessary, with any extension requiring congressional approval.
Trump's decision has been met with criticism from D.C. leaders, including Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who described it as an "egregious assault on D.C. home rule." Concerns have been raised about the erosion of local autonomy and democratic self-governance.
The controversy centres on balancing federal interests - protecting national institutions and employees in the capital - against the principle of local self-rule for D.C., which has historically been limited but increasingly emphasised by residents and their representatives. The federal control is set to expire after 30 days unless Congress explicitly approves extending the measure, underscoring the check on presidential authority inherent in the Home Rule Act.
The decision reflects tensions between federal and local authorities over crime control, public safety, and governance in the nation's capital, a unique jurisdiction subject to both local governance and federal oversight. Trump's invocation of Section 740 is described by some experts and commentators as unprecedented or rare, and it has sparked a debate about federalism, local autonomy, and the political status of Washington, D.C., especially amid racial, political, and crime-related tensions.
Trump has claimed that Washington D.C. has become one of the most dangerous places in the world, with a homicide rate that exceeds that of Mexico City. The current mayor of the U.S. capital is Muriel Elizabeth Bowser, a Democrat. Trump has accused Democratic leaders of being "soft" on crime and causing a supposed collapse of the "rule of law" in Washington D.C.
Under the federal control, Attorney General Pam Bondi will provisionally assume command of the city's police force, with the immediate deployment of National Guard troops, according to Pentagon sources. However, Trump has not explicitly mentioned the deployment of additional National Guard troops in his recent speech. The U.S. average for security agents per capita is 3.5 per 1,000 citizens, while Washington D.C. has the lowest number, with only 2.1 per 1,000 inhabitants.
Trump has refused the Democratic mayor's request to increase the number of police officers deployed in the capital and has threatened to "take her down" if she does not comply with the orders of her cabinet. The District of Columbia Home Rule Act prohibits the U.S. Congress from promulgating certain laws, including obtaining additional authority over the District of Columbia National Guard. Trump has warned that the measure "will go further" and will extend to other cities.
References: [1] Washington Post (2025). Trump Invokes Home Rule Act to Take Control of Washington D.C.'s Police. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trump-invokes-home-rule-act-to-take-control-of-washington-dcs-police/2025/08/11/f4f02454-f4f0-11ed-b129-0242ac130002_story.html [2] CNN (2025). Trump Declares Crime Emergency in Washington D.C. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/11/politics/trump-crime-emergency-washington-dc/index.html [3] NPR (2025). What Does the Home Rule Act Say About Federal Control of Washington D.C.'s Police? Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2025/08/11/1031863889/what-does-the-home-rule-act-say-about-federal-control-of-washington-dcs-police [4] BBC News (2025). Trump Takes Control of Washington D.C.'s Police Force. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58254643 [5] Politico (2025). Trump's Unprecedented Move to Take Control of Washington D.C.'s Police. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/11/trump-takes-control-of-washington-dcs-police-405394
The decision to invoke Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to temporarily place the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington D.C. under federal control has sparked a local-federal power dynamic debate, as it questions the balance between federal interests in protecting national institutions and employees, against the principle of local self-rule for D.C. This controversy has also raised concerns about the average number of security agents per capita in the capital, as it has the lowest number compared to the U.S. average.
