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D.C. Mayor's Dilemma: Bowser Suggests Delaying Lawsuit Over National Guard Deployment

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has been urging Attorney General Brian Schwalb to hold off on filing a lawsuit that would end the National Guard's deployment in Washington D.C., sources tell Axios. This comes as the city's residents are divided on how to address President Trump's crime takeover, which has sparked concerns nationwide. Meanwhile, Schwalb has filed a lawsuit accusing Trump of illegally using the military for local law enforcement, marking the District's most aggressive step so far to counter the president.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mayor Bowser privately urged Attorney General Schwalb to delay filing the lawsuit until after September 10, when Trump's authority to take over the department expires under D.C.'s Home Rule Act.
  • Bowser believes that this date is a turning point where she can use goodwill with the White House to begin drawing down Trump's deployment of the National Guard.
  • Schwalb had a call with Bowser and Council Chairman Phil Mendelson hours before the attorney general went forward with the lawsuit, and Mendelson expressed concerns about the timing of the lawsuit.
  • The National Guard is expected to stick around through December, according to a CNN report.
  • A White House executive order establishes a new National Guard unit devoted to public safety in D.C.
  • Schwalb's lawsuit comes two days after a federal judge ruled that the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles to quell anti-ICE protests was illegal.
  • Congressional Republicans are planning to introduce a bill that would replace Schwalb with a presidential appointee and overhaul D.C.'s criminal justice laws, according to a Washington Post report.

Statistics:

  • 30 days: The number of days that Trump has authority to take over the department under D.C.'s Home Rule Act.
  • September 10: The planned date for Trump's authority to expire.
  • 10: The point in time when Bowser hopes to begin drawing down Trump's deployment of the National Guard.
  • December: The expected end date for the National Guard's deployment in D.C.

Sources:

  • Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/09/03/bowser-trump-home-rule-federal-national-guard
  • Axios: https://www.axios.com/2025/09/03/trump-next-immigration-targets-chicago-boston
  • Twitter: https://x.com/PressSec/status/1962975203312730509
  • Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/09/04/dc-lawsuit-remove-national-guard-attorney-general-brian-schwalb
  • CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/politics/national-guard-dc-extension-december-benefits
  • White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/additional-measures-to-address-the-crime-emergency-in-the-district-of-columbia/
  • Axios: https://www.axios.com/2025/09/02/national-guard-la-trump-judge
  • The Hill: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5487103-national-guard-los-angeles/
  • Axios: https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2025/09/03/dc-attorney-general-brian-schwalb-reelection-bid
  • Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/09/03/house-gop-weighing-bills-remove-elected-dc-ag-overhaul-justice-policies/

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