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Trump Administration's Attempt to Take Control of DC Police Force Blocks by Emergency Hearing

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A federal court has forced the Justice Department to rewrite an order by Attorney General Pam Bondi that placed a Trump administration official in charge of the District of Columbia's police force, following an emergency hearing on a lawsuit filed by the district. The court has set a deadline of 6:30 p.m. Eastern Friday for the rewritten order, and failure to comply will result in a temporary restraining order. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb called the original order a "brazen usurpation of the district's authority" and argues that it is contrary to the district's Home Rule Act of 1973.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Justice Department has been forced to rewrite an order by Attorney General Pam Bondi that placed a Trump administration official, Terry Cole, in charge of the District of Columbia's police force.
  • The court has set a deadline of 6:30 p.m. Eastern Friday for the rewritten order, and failure to comply will result in a temporary restraining order.
  • District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the original order was a "brazen usurpation of the district's authority" and a "violation of the Home Rule Act of 1973."
  • The lawsuit argues that the Home Rule Act of 1973 gives Congress control over local laws and the district's budget, but allows Washingtonians to elect their local leaders.
  • Trump has warned that he may pursue similar action in other Democratic-led cities that he sees as having "totally out of control" crime.
  • The suit does not challenge Trump's decision to deploy 800 National Guard members to the district, as the district is not a state and the president has sole authority over the National Guard.
  • The district, home to more than 700,000 residents, is experiencing violence at a historic 30-year low, with some advocates and local leaders criticizing the president's decision as an extension of the administration's immigration crackdown.
  • The district's police chief has issued a new order to allow local police to aid federal officials in immigration enforcement for immigrants not in police custody.

Statistics:

  • There are 3,400 officers in the Metropolitan Police Department.
  • The district is home to more than 700,000 residents.
  • Violent crime in the district is at a historic 30-year low.
  • 800 National Guard members have been deployed to the district.

Sources:

  • (https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283776/gov.uscourts.dcd.283776.2.2.pdf) - order by Attorney General Pam Bondi
  • (https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.283776/gov.uscourts.dcd.283776.1.0_1.pdf) - lawsuit filed by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb
  • (https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-mobilizes-dc-national-guard-pledges-similar-crackdown-democratic-cities) - Trump's executive order to federalize the district's police force
  • (https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-police-now-allowed-to-notify-ice-of-people-not-in-custody-police-chief-says/3975078/) - district's police chief order to allow local police to aid federal officials in immigration enforcement

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