WASHINGTON, Sep 15 – President Donald Trump reignited tensions with the leadership of Washington, D.C., threatening to once again place the city’s police force under federal control. His remarks came after Mayor Muriel Bowser reaffirmed that the Metropolitan Police Department would not take part in immigration enforcement efforts, a stance that has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate between the city and the federal government.
Trump had previously issued an emergency order that gave him direct authority over D.C.’s police department, but that order expired last week. In the days leading up to its expiration, Bowser publicly stated that while the city would continue coordinating with certain federal agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would not be among them. The mayor emphasized that immigration enforcement has never been a function of the Metropolitan Police and that this would not change once the emergency order lapsed.
Early Monday morning, Trump posted online that crime in the nation’s capital had dropped significantly during the period when his administration took charge of local policing. While Bowser herself acknowledged some improvements in public safety, crime statistics indicate that Washington’s crime rate had already been on a downward trend before federal intervention began. Nonetheless, the president argued that without continued cooperation on immigration enforcement, those gains could be reversed. He warned that if necessary, he would declare a new national emergency and federalize the city’s police force again.
The mayor’s office chose not to comment on Trump’s renewed threat. Meanwhile, the White House declined to clarify whether the president had concrete plans to follow through or if he had considered trying to extend the earlier order before it expired on September 11. That order had not been renewed by Congress and thus automatically expired.
Later in the day, Trump signed an unrelated order in the Oval Office deploying National Guard forces to Memphis. While speaking to reporters, he doubled down on his claims that federal oversight had transformed D.C.’s law enforcement climate. “We’ll federalize again if we have to,” Trump said, “but right now the city is in excellent shape.”
Mayor Bowser, for her part, had already outlined how the Metropolitan Police would continue working with federal partners after the emergency order ended. In a directive issued September 2, she named agencies such as the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Secret Service as key partners. Notably absent from the list was ICE, reinforcing her administration’s position that immigration enforcement falls outside the responsibilities of local police. Speaking at a public event on September 10, Bowser reiterated this stance, saying, “Immigration enforcement is not what MPD does, and it won’t be what MPD does in the future.”
Data reviewed during the emergency period revealed that over 40% of arrests carried out under the federal-led policing surge were immigration-related. Critics of the policy argued that the administration’s actions blurred the lines between traditional crime prevention and immigration crackdowns, raising concerns about civil liberties and the role of local police in federal agendas.
The ongoing deployment of federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard units, drawn not only from the District but also from eight states, has further fueled debate. The D.C. Attorney General has filed a lawsuit challenging the presence of military forces in the city, contending that such deployments violate the spirit of local self-governance and pose risks to residents.
Adding weight to these concerns, a coalition of former civilian leaders and retired four-star generals issued a statement on Monday cautioning against the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. They warned that involving servicemembers in policing roles creates safety risks both for the troops and the public. Among those speaking out was retired General Michael Hayden, who previously served as director of the National Security Agency.
Trump’s warning coincided with new developments in Congress, where the House Committee on Rules was considering several measures directly affecting the District. Among the proposals under review were a bill to lower the minimum age at which juveniles can be tried as adults in serious cases from 16 to 14, and restrictions on the city’s ability to manage its sentencing laws and judicial appointments. The week before, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform had advanced these bills on a party-line vote, highlighting the continuing federal role in shaping the city’s policies.
Washington, D.C., has operated under a limited home rule framework since 1973, giving the city authority over many local matters while leaving Congress with the power to approve its budget and legislation. This arrangement has long fueled tensions between local leaders seeking greater independence and federal authorities eager to assert control. Trump’s latest statements underscore how the city’s autonomy remains precarious, especially when national political disputes—like immigration enforcement—become entangled with local governance.