President Donald Trump has federalised Washington DC's police force and deployed 850 National Guard troops to the capital in an unprecedented federal takeover. The dramatic move came as Trump cited a crime emergency requiring immediate federal intervention.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser slammed the action as "authoritarian" but pledged cooperation with federal forces. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the National Guard made 23 arrests in their first day, including charges for homicide, firearms offences, drug possession, and drunk driving.
Federal authority and legal basis
The takeover operates under Section 740 of the 1973 Home Rule Act, according to the Independent, allowing 30-day emergency federal control with potential Congressional extension. This marks an extraordinary assertion of federal authority over local law enforcement in the nation's capital.
Trump has been seeking to change the news cycle after weeks of scrutiny over his documented relationship with dead billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Political allies praised the president's efforts to tackle what he characterised as a "crime wave" in DC.
Crime statistics challenge justification
The Independent reports that DC crime statistics actually show violent crime at a 30-year low, with carjackings down 50% in 2024. This data contradicts Trump's emergency justification for the unprecedented federal intervention.
US Park Police removed 70 homeless encampments as part of the operation, according to the Independent, offering shelter and treatment or potential fines and jail time. The federal forces took control of local policing operations across the Democratic stronghold.
Political tensions escalate
The move has intensified long-standing tensions between Trump and Bowser dating back to his first term. The federal takeover represents a significant constitutional test of federal versus local authority in Washington DC.
National Guard troops remain positioned throughout the capital as the 30-day emergency period begins. Further developments are expected as legal challenges and political responses continue to unfold.
Sources used: "Express", "Independent" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
