Defend DC Home Rule: Stop Federal Overreach in Local Policing

The attempted federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. marks a disturbing escalation in the erosion of local self-governance. By deploying National Guard troops and attempting to install federal authority over local law enforcement, the Trump administration has set a precedent that threatens the balance of power enshrined in the Home Rule Act of 1973. This move, justified by exaggerated claims of emergency, undermines the will of D.C. residents and their elected officials.

Local leaders, including Police Chief Pamela Smith and Mayor Muriel Bowser, have made it clear that this intervention is both unnecessary and destabilizing. Violent crime in D.C. is down, and there is no justification for bypassing local authority. The recent compromise, which left Chief Smith nominally in charge while still subjecting the department to federal directives, is not enough to safeguard D.C.'s autonomy.

Proposals in Congress to eliminate the time limit on federal control over D.C. policing would further entrench executive power and open the door for similar interventions in other cities. This is not about public safety; it is about consolidating power and undermining democracy.

We call on Congress, the President, and the Department of Justice to respect the Home Rule Act, restore full control of the Metropolitan Police Department to D.C. officials, and reject any attempts to expand federal authority over local policing. The people of D.C.—and all American cities—deserve the right to govern themselves free from authoritarian overreach.