Democratic lawmakers have taken a significant step by introducing a joint resolution aimed at challenging what they describe as Trump's unlawful and unprecedented action to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C. This resolution was introduced on Friday by Representative Jamie Raskin, who serves as the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, along with DC’s non-voting House delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
The joint resolution invokes the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants DC residents the authority to govern their local affairs, including the election of a mayor and local council members. According to the resolution, Trump has failed to demonstrate any special emergency conditions that would justify the federalization of the police force, a move that lawmakers deem unnecessary and politically motivated.
In the Senate, the resolution will be sponsored by Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Raskin criticized Trump’s actions, stating, “The only emergency here is a lawless president experiencing a growing public relations emergency due to his close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and his stubborn refusal to release the Epstein file despite his promise to do so.” This statement highlights the contentious nature of the current political climate and the perceived misuse of power by the president.
The Home Rule Act of 1973 delineates the limited powers of the president to temporarily assume control of the DC police department only under special conditions of an emergency. Recently, Trump signed an executive order asserting direct control over the MPD, a move that many view as controversial and premeditated. Lawmakers contend that the necessary special conditions for such federal control have not been met and that Congress holds the authority to terminate this emergency control through a joint resolution.
In a notable development on Friday evening, White House officials reached an agreement with attorneys representing Washington, DC, to scale back the executive order issued by US Attorney General Pam Bondi concerning the federal takeover of the city’s police department. Under this new agreement, the MPD will remain under the control of DC Police Chief Pamela Smith, rather than being managed by the top administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Terry Cole.
The sponsors of the joint resolution argue that Trump has attempted to justify his decision to place local police under federal control by presenting a misleading narrative regarding DC’s crime rate. They point out that crime has actually declined for two consecutive years, reaching its lowest level in three decades. Norton remarked, “President Trump’s incursions against DC are among the most egregious attacks on DC home rule in decades.” She emphasized that DC residents deserve the same autonomy as residents of the states and asserted that no legitimate emergency exists that the president did not engineer himself.
Lawmakers maintain that Trump’s actions have adversely affected public safety by obstructing DC’s access to $1 billion in locally generated funds designated for police, fire, emergency services, and various safety programs. Additionally, the resolution highlights that Trump has removed or reassigned many of DC’s prosecutors, contributing to a backlog in criminal cases and delaying justice for victims. His decisions have also included pardoning or granting clemency to nearly 1,600 individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, including numerous offenders convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers.
This joint resolution marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate about local governance and federal oversight in Washington, DC, as lawmakers continue to advocate for the rights and autonomy of its residents.
