President Donald Trump has signed executive orders placing Washington DC’s Metropolitan Police Department under federal control, citing an “emergency” caused by rising violent crime in the US capital.
The order states that “rising violence in the capital now urgently endangers public servants, citizens, and tourists, disrupts safe and secure transportation and the proper functioning of the Federal Government.” It describes the crime situation as placing DC “among the most violent jurisdictions in the United States.”
Under the directive, the DC police will operate under federal authority, with the Attorney General instructed to provide regular updates to the president on the “special conditions of an emergency nature” requiring the use of the force for federal purposes.
Trump has invoked the Home Rule Act, a 1973 law originally intended to give Washington DC residents greater autonomy by allowing them to elect a city council and mayor. The Act also grants the president and Congress certain reserved powers, including the ability to assume control of the city’s police if emergency conditions exist.
The law stipulates that such control can only last up to 48 hours without written notice to Congress. With notice, the takeover can continue for a maximum of 30 days.