Trump's attempt to control the Washington city police force is being challenged by the local Prosecutor's Office.
In a bold move, Washington D.C.'s Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump's executive order that aimed to federalize and take direct control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The lawsuit, announced on August 15, 2025, asserts that these federal moves exceed the president’s limited authority under the Home Rule Act and violate the District’s autonomy.
The executive order, signed on August 11, 2025, invoked Section 740 of the Home Rule Act of 1973. This provision allows the president to request MPD assistance for federal purposes during certain emergency conditions, but it limits this authority to no more than 30 days and requires coordination with D.C.'s mayor. However, Trump's action bypassed these constraints by attempting a direct takeover and replacing the MPD Chief with the DEA administrator, Pamela Bondi.
Schwalb argues that even when lawfully invoked, the president cannot assume operational control of the MPD. Control remains with the Mayor and the MPD Chief. The appointment of Terry Cole as commissioner of the Washington Police, in accordance with the executive order, further solidifies this concern.
The local government in Washington D.C. has not approved the measure to impose federal control over the police force. The Democratic-dominated local government insists that there are no official data to support the claim of high crime rates in the capital, casting doubt on the justification for the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops and the appointment of Terry Cole as commissioner of the Washington Police.
Schwalb has labeled the Trump Administration's actions as an "abuse of power" and a "flagrantly illegal" overreach of presidential authority. He has also expressed concerns that these actions put at risk the safety of residents and visitors in the capital.
This lawsuit marks the most serious threat to the autonomy of the District of Columbia ever faced, according to Schwalb. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and what implications it may have for the future of policing in Washington D.C.
- The ongoing news about war-and-conflicts and policy-and-legislation in Washington D.C. has expanded to include the lawsuit filed by Brian Schwalb against former President Donald Trump, challenging his executive order to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
- The lawsuit, involving politics and general-news, raises concerns about the president's authority under the Home Rule Act, as it questions Trump's attempt to bypass local government approval and directly take control of the MPD, potentially putting the safety of residents and visitors at risk.
