Select Language:
The Justice Department reached an agreement Friday with Washington authorities regarding control over the city’s police department following President Donald Trump’s intervention to place it under federal oversight to address violent crime. The pact was finalized during a federal court hearing after the District’s attorney general sued the Trump administration, accusing it of conducting a “hostile takeover” of the city’s police force.
Trump had put Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control earlier in the week and ordered 800 National Guard troops onto the streets. Shortly after, his attorney general, Pam Bondi, issued a directive to appoint Terry Cole, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), as an “emergency” police commissioner.
In response, Brian Schwalb, Washington’s attorney general, filed a lawsuit asserting federal law does not authorize such a bold usurpation of the district’s authority. During Friday’s court session, Judge Ana Reyes urged both sides to come to a resolution. They agreed that Cole would not assume direct command but rather issue directives through the mayor’s office. Reyes emphasized that Cole wouldn’t be directing officers directly but would act through the mayor.
Following the hearing, Schwalb expressed satisfaction, stating, “I believe the control and command of our MPD has been clarified today and it’s legally established that the department is under the authority of the mayor’s appointee, the police chief.” He added, “We don’t need a federal takeover to handle our daily operations.”
Washington’s relationship with the federal government is unique among U.S. states. Since the Home Rule Act of the mid-1970s, residents have elected their mayor and city council, although Congress retains significant control over the budget. Critics, mainly Republicans, accuse the city of being overwhelmed by crime, homelessness, and mismanagement.
Despite these claims, recent police data indicate a notable decline in violent crime between 2023 and 2024, following a pandemic-driven spike. Mayor Bowser highlighted that violent crime was at its lowest in three decades earlier this week. Trump has also targeted homelessness, proposing to clear encampments and move those living in public spaces far from the capital.
Washington ranks 15th among major U.S. cities in homeless population, according to data from last year. Trump’s recent social media posts describe the city as “under siege from thugs and killers,” claiming it suffers from higher crime levels than many violent countries in the world. However, local residents dispute those assertions.
Larry Janezich, age 81, told AFP: “That’s totally false and just a media spin to justify an unwarranted federal intervention.”
Add on ChatGPT
Add on Perplexity
Buy Writer a Coffee
