Trump’s DC Emergency Order Ends As House Targets Autonomy/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump’s emergency order federalizing Washington, D.C.’s police ends at midnight, returning control to the city. But Republicans in the House are pushing 13 bills to roll back elements of D.C. home rule, targeting local law enforcement and judicial systems. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Democrats say the proposals threaten the capital’s autonomy and renew calls for statehood.
DC Emergency and Autonomy — Quick Looks
- Emergency order ends: Trump’s takeover of Metropolitan Police expires Wednesday night.
- Federal surge: 2,000 National Guard troops, federal agents deployed during crackdown.
- Crime drop: Data shows decline, though trend began before takeover.
- House action: 13 bills debated to limit D.C.’s local power.
- Key measures: Remove elected attorney general, lower juvenile trial age, alter bail system.
- Bowser’s response: Says bills undermine democracy, calls for statehood.
- GOP stance: Argue measures protect safety for residents and visitors.
- Senate hurdle: Unclear if bills could pass Democrat-controlled chamber.
- Home rule history: D.C. granted limited autonomy in 1973; Congress retains oversight.
Deep Look: Trump’s Emergency Order Ends, But D.C. Faces New Limits From House Republicans
WASHINGTON — After 30 days of federalized policing and an unprecedented law enforcement surge in the nation’s capital, President Donald Trump’s emergency order over Washington, D.C. expires at midnight Wednesday. While local leaders regain control of the Metropolitan Police Department, a fresh battle looms in Congress over the future of the district’s self-governance.
Trump’s Federal Takeover
Trump issued the emergency order last month, seizing control of D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department and deploying more than 2,000 National Guard members alongside federal officers from multiple agencies. Framed as a crimefighting initiative, the surge involved sweeps, roundups, and heightened patrols across the city.
The White House points to a noticeable drop in crime during the intervention, though both federal and local statistics indicate crime had already been declining in the weeks prior.
Trump and his allies described the takeover as necessary to restore order and make the capital a “safe zone.” Critics, including D.C. leaders, saw it as a direct affront to home rule, the limited autonomy Congress granted the district in 1973.
Emergency Ends, But Federal Presence Remains
With Congress declining to extend the emergency, control of the police returns to city officials. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office confirmed the expiration, but noted that the National Guard and some federal agencies remain deployed, with no clear timeline for withdrawal.
Bowser had walked a fine line throughout the intervention — cooperating with Trump to maintain stability while voicing concerns about federal overreach. Now she faces a new challenge: Republican lawmakers determined to codify and expand Washington’s federal oversight.
House Republicans Target D.C. Laws
On Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform began debating 13 bills that could significantly reshape the district’s governance. Among the proposals:
- Eliminating the position of elected attorney general, allowing the president to appoint someone instead.
- Lowering the age at which juveniles can be tried as adults from 16 to 14 for certain crimes.
- Restricting the D.C. Council’s emergency legislative powers.
- Rewriting portions of the city’s bail system.
Republicans argue the measures are needed to protect residents and visitors. Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) pointed to the recent murder of a congressional intern as evidence of D.C.’s public safety crisis.
“We want to make sure that we have a capital that Americans are proud of,” Estes said.
“Congress has a clear constitutional authority over D.C., and we will use it without hesitation,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas).
Bowser Pushes Back
“Laws affecting the district should be made by the district,” she said, warning that stripping elected officials of authority undermines residents’ voices.
Bowser specifically criticized a bill by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), arguing it would “make the District less efficient, competitive, and responsive.” She also renewed her calls for D.C. statehood, though Republicans have consistently rejected the idea.
Senate Uncertainty
Even if the measures pass the House, their fate in the Senate is uncertain. Democrats hold the majority, and D.C. activists are already lobbying senators to block what they see as federal overreach.
Some Democrats also note the irony of Republicans — typically defenders of states’ rights — working to reduce the autonomy of D.C. residents, who currently lack voting representation in Congress.
A Historic Tension
The debate reflects a long-standing tension between D.C.’s elected officials and federal authority. The 1973 Home Rule Act gave residents limited autonomy, but Congress retains the power to override local budgets and laws.
For Trump and his allies, that authority is a tool to assert control over the capital city. For Bowser and many Democrats, it is a reminder that statehood remains the only true safeguard against federal encroachment.
As the emergency order lifts, the larger question remains: Will Washington, D.C. be allowed to chart its own course — or will it remain at the mercy of shifting political winds in Congress?
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