Washington D.C. Sues to Halt Trump’s Police Takeover Move/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Washington, D.C. is suing to block President Trump’s federal takeover of its police department, calling it unlawful and chaotic. The Trump administration appointed a DEA chief as the city’s new emergency police head. The move marks a historic federal intrusion into local authority and intensifies the national crackdown.
Trump’s D.C. Police Takeover Quick Looks
- Lawsuit Filed: D.C. Attorney General seeks emergency court order
- New Appointment: DEA Chief Terry Cole named emergency police head
- Legal Clash: Move challenges D.C.’s Home Rule Act of 1973
- Chief’s Status: Pamela Smith’s role unclear amid conflicting directives
- Federal Power Limits: Trump’s control capped at 30 days without Congress
- Immigration Tensions: Orders rescinded protecting non-detained immigrants
- Visible Crackdown: National Guard and federal agents deployed citywide
- Federal Appointees: Bondi and Pirro now hold top D.C. legal posts
- Mayor Pushback: Bowser says move violates local authority statutes
- Public Concern: Residents protest checkpoints and military presence
Deep Look: D.C. Sues to Block Trump’s Unprecedented Federal Police Takeover
WASHINGTON – August 15, 2025 — The District of Columbia filed an emergency lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration, seeking to halt what it calls an illegal and destabilizing federal takeover of its police department. The lawsuit was filed just hours after President Donald Trump escalated his intervention by placing Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole in charge of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) as its acting emergency commissioner.
The lawsuit, filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, seeks an emergency restraining order in federal court. Schwalb argues that the appointment violates both local governance laws and the Home Rule Act of 1973, which provides the district with limited self-governance.
“This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced,” Schwalb said Friday. “The administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call D.C. home.”
Trump Moves to Seize Control of D.C. Law Enforcement
The Trump administration’s appointment of Cole came via a directive from Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced that all directives from MPD leadership must now be approved by the new federal head. The status of Police Chief Pamela Smith, who was appointed by the D.C. mayor, remains uncertain under the new order.
The federal government offered no immediate comment on the lawsuit, and the White House has yet to respond to inquiries.
The move represents one of the broadest federal assertions of authority over a local police force in modern U.S. history. Trump’s actions are backed by emergency powers, which he claims are necessary to address crime, drug trafficking, and immigration violations in the capital. However, D.C. officials say the claims are exaggerated and politically motivated.
Tensions Over Immigration and Law Enforcement Policy
The legal showdown follows Smith’s internal order that MPD officers may share information with immigration authorities only under specific conditions. Bondi immediately rescinded that directive, along with other local “sanctuary” policies that limited cooperation with federal immigration officers.
All future MPD directives must now go through DEA Chief Cole, Bondi stated, effectively placing him in operational control of the city’s police force.
Critics see this as part of Trump’s larger strategy to assert federal authority over local jurisdictions, particularly on immigration enforcement. Bondi, a Trump appointee, has used her platform to reverse several local policies aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants.
Legal Limits on Presidential Power
While the president does have unique powers over the District of Columbia, they are limited by the Home Rule Act, which allows for a 30-day emergency control period unless extended by Congress. Trump has not yet requested such an extension but has said he is reviewing the timeline.
Schwalb’s lawsuit argues that even under emergency conditions, the president cannot override the mayor’s personnel authority.
In a memo to MPD, Schwalb wrote, “Members of MPD must continue to follow your orders and not the orders of any official not appointed by the Mayor.”
Trump is the first president since the passage of the Home Rule Act to exercise direct control over D.C.’s police force.
A City Under Federal Watch
Across Washington, federal visibility has surged. National Guard troops, DEA agents, Secret Service officers, and DHS police have taken up posts at major landmarks and transportation hubs, including Union Station, Nationals Park, and The Wharf. Humvees have been deployed across key intersections, and checkpoints have appeared in nightlife zones.
The Trump administration said 800 National Guard troops have been activated to assist in monument security, traffic control, and “community safety patrols.” According to National Guard Major Micah Maxwell, these troops have received training in de-escalation and crowd control.
Community Response and Protests
Residents have responded with concern and protest. Video footage linked to local media shows D.C. citizens confronting officers at checkpoints, and volunteers have been seen helping homeless residents relocate from longstanding encampments. Where they are being moved remains unclear.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, was out of town Thursday on a personal trip but has since returned. Her office issued a firm statement, saying, “There is no statute that conveys the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.”
Trump’s Federal Appointees Solidify Influence in D.C.
The takeover is being coordinated by key Trump allies now holding senior legal posts in Washington. Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is now U.S. Attorney General, and former Fox News host Jeanine Pirro serves as the U.S. attorney for D.C., both appointed by Trump.
Together, they are driving a high-profile crackdown that blends federal authority, law enforcement realignment, and a message aimed at swing voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.
As the 30-day deadline approaches for federal intervention, all eyes will be on whether Congress steps in or Trump attempts to extend his control further—a move that would likely trigger a full-scale constitutional showdown.
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