Unprecedented actions by Trump in seizing control of Washington D.C.
In a move that marks a significant assertion of federal authority, President Donald Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control. This action was taken to combat a surge in crime in the capital, particularly a drop in carjackings, and was announced in August 2025.
Section 740 grants the President limited, time-bound authority to take control of the MPD during exceptional emergency situations in Washington, D.C. The authority allows the President to declare "special conditions of an emergency nature" and to maintain law and order, protect federal property, and ensure the orderly functioning of the federal government. The authority can last from 48 hours up to 30 days and includes the ability to deploy federal law enforcement agencies and the National Guard in the District.
The historically majority Black population of Washington D.C. didn't elect its own city council and mayor until 1973. The Constitution calls for the District of Columbia to serve as the federal seat of power, under the jurisdiction of Congress. The Home Rule Act of 1973 allowed for greater local control, but the President still has the power to call up the National Guard.
This provision was notably invoked by President Trump in 2025, marking a unique and contested assertion of federal authority over DC local law enforcement. No prior use of Section 740 to place the DC police department directly under federal presidential control has been verified before 2025.
Local government officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, acknowledged the federal action but stressed the importance of DC autonomy and statehood. The MPD Chief stated the department would cooperate with federal partners as it had previously.
The Democratic mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, called the takeover "unprecedented." The law is specific to D.C. and doesn't affect other communities with "home rule" powers in relation to their state governments. Trump cited recent high-profile incidents, including the killing of a congressional intern and the beating of a DOGE staffer, as reasons for the takeover.
Trump's second-term moves in Washington D.C. come as the legal battle continues over his deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles. Repealing the Home Rule Act to expand federal power in the district would be difficult due to resistance from most Democrats. The takeover could face challenges in court as Congress still has power over the district's budget and laws.
The National Guard was deployed in another Democratic-led city, Los Angeles, despite the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom. The future duration and implications of the takeover in Washington D.C. remain uncertain.
Politics and general news discuss Trump's unprecedented use of policy-and-legislation, specifically Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, to place the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control in 2025. This move, which drew criticism from local government officials such as Mayor Muriel Bowser, marks a unique assertion of federal authority over DC local law enforcement, with potential challenges in court due to Congress' power over the district's budget and laws.
