Trump Places DC Police Under Federal Control, Deploys National Guard

President Donald Trump announced he is placing the Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deploying the National Guard to address crime and homelessness in the capital, calling it 'Liberation Day' and pledging to 'take our capital back.' Trump invoked section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to justify this federal takeover, with Attorney General Pam Bondi overseeing the police department. He criticized local authorities for being too lenient on crime, despite official data showing violent crime and overall crime have declined in recent years, and accused the city of being overwhelmed by violent gangs and homelessness. The move mirrors Trump's previous controversial deployments of the National Guard in cities like Los Angeles amid protests and law enforcement challenges. Washington's Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back, stating the city is not experiencing a crime spike and highlighting crime declines, though gun violence remains a concern. This federal intervention raises questions about the balance of local autonomy and federal authority in DC, where Congress holds significant control, and signals Trump’s willingness to expand such measures to other cities like New York and Chicago.