Tensions are soaring in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump faces a lawsuit over his unprecedented federal takeover of the city’s police force.
The move, which includes deploying hundreds of National Guard troops and federal agents, has drawn immediate legal challenges and criticism from city officials.
On Monday, Trump signed an executive order federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and asserting emergency powers over D.C. under the Home Rule Act.
The order effectively removes local control from Mayor Muriel Bowser, giving the federal government authority to direct law enforcement operations in the nation’s capital.
D.C. Attorney General Challenges Executive Order
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit on Friday morning, arguing that the president’s actions are “brazenly unlawful.”
According to Schwalb, the executive order goes far beyond the president’s authority and amounts to a hostile takeover of the city’s police department.
Schwalb called Trump’s order “an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call D.C. home,” and the lawsuit seeks to block further federal interference with local law enforcement.
The suit names Trump, the Department of Homeland Security, ICE, and other officials as defendants.
Sanctuary City Protections Rescinded
Adding fuel to the fire, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday evening that D.C. will no longer be treated as a sanctuary city.
Speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity, Bondi said, “Actively shielding criminal aliens will not happen.”
Shortly afterward, Bondi instructed D.C.’s Chief of Police Pamela Smith to transfer policing authority to Drug Enforcement official Terry Cole.
Mayor Bowser responded by calling the order unlawful and clarifying that Smith is not obligated to comply with it.
Constitutionality and Separation of Powers Under Question
Schwalb’s lawsuit also argues that Trump’s executive order is unconstitutional, violating the separation of powers by encroaching on the authority of local government.
The suit asks a federal judge to vacate Bondi’s order and prevent further attempts by the administration to direct D.C. law enforcement activities.
Federal Forces and ICE’s Flashy New Presence
Over the course of the week, the administration has sent more than 800 National Guard troops, along with Border Patrol and ICE agents, to patrol D.C. streets.
ICE has also unveiled new vehicles featuring gold branding and the agency’s logo, a move highlighted by the Department of Homeland Security on X, accompanied by the statement: “We will have our country back.”
Crime Crackdown and Arrests
The federal crackdown has resulted in over 100 arrests since its launch, marking a dramatic escalation in the city’s policing approach.
While the administration touts the initiative as a crime-fighting success, critics argue that the aggressive tactics and high-profile federal presence risk undermining the autonomy and trust of D.C. residents.
