Washington DC is taking legal action against the federal government over its controversial takeover of the local police force. This lawsuit follows a decision by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who appointed the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as the district's emergency police commissioner. The District's Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, expressed his concerns on social media platform X, stating that the federal government has unlawfully declared a takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and is misusing its limited authority granted by law.
The lawsuit seeks to have a judge invalidate Bondi's order, which would prevent the DEA head from taking command within the MPD. In a related development, President Donald Trump announced on Monday his intention to utilize federal law enforcement to combat crime in Washington. He has dispatched hundreds of National Guard members and federal agents to assist in various law enforcement efforts, including clearing homeless encampments and establishing checkpoints. This move invokes a 1970s legislation known as the Home Rule Act, which permits the president to employ MPD for federal purposes deemed necessary.
The US Justice Department has refrained from commenting on the ongoing lawsuit, but a hearing is scheduled before Judge Ana Reyes, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, at 2:00 PM EST (7:00 PM BST). On Thursday, Bondi issued an order stating that DEA Administrator Terry Cole would assume all powers and responsibilities of local Police Chief Pamela Smith. Under this directive, Chief Smith must seek approval from Commissioner Cole before issuing further instructions to the MPD.
In response to Bondi's order, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Schwalb quickly condemned the action as unlawful, advising Chief Smith that she need not comply with the directive. Smith articulated her concerns in a declaration filed with the lawsuit, warning that the Bondi Order could drastically alter the command structure of the MPD, thereby jeopardizing public safety and the safety of law enforcement personnel. "In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never encountered a government action that poses a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive," she stated.
In recent days, armored vehicles have been deployed near iconic monuments and popular tourist areas, while law enforcement has set up checkpoints along a well-frequented nightlife corridor. Additionally, helicopters from the national park system have been patrolling the skies. Officials anticipate the deployment of around 800 troops and 500 federal law enforcement agents, including members of the FBI, to the district.
Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, has asserted that there is no emergency warranting such drastic measures, calling Trump's actions an unnecessary and unprecedented authoritarian push. Reports indicate that Trump may be the first president to federalize the MPD, although previous administrations have intervened in DC policing. For instance, in 1989, President George H.W. Bush sent approximately 200 National Guard troops to assist local police during a spike in crime associated with crack cocaine, with the understanding that they would not patrol the streets.
The National Guard has also been deployed in recent years to safeguard the Capitol following the January 6, 2021, attack, and earlier in response to the 2020 protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd. During a Fox News Channel appearance on Thursday, Bondi highlighted the recent achievements of federal officers, noting that they have made 156 arrests and confiscated 27 firearms this week.
While Trump claims that crime rates have increased in Washington DC, an analysis by BBC Verify suggests otherwise. Data from the DC police indicates that violent offenses have declined following a peak in 2023, reaching their lowest levels in 30 years by 2024. Preliminary data for 2025 indicates that this downward trend is continuing, with overall violent crime having decreased by 26% this year compared to the same period in 2024, and robbery incidents down by 28%. Since taking office, Trump has also deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles to address protests related to deportation raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
