By Megan SaylesAFRO Employees Writermsayles@afro.com
Native leaders are responding to the forty seventh president’s transfer to declare a nationwide crime emergency in Washington, D.C. and deploy the Nationwide Guard to the capital. On Aug. 11, the forty seventh president issued an govt order invoking Part 740 of the 1973 District of Columbia Dwelling Rule Act to take management of the Metropolitan Police Division (MPD) from the D.C. mayor and place it beneath federal authority.
The president pointed to climbing murder charges, an increase in juvenile crime and record-high carjackings as justification for his govt order. Nevertheless, Mayor Muriel Bowsers maintains that violent crime has truly began to say no within the nation’s capital. She believes the president’s outlook on D.C. public security challenges is formed by his first-term expertise through the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s true that these have been tougher instances associated to some points. It’s also true that we skilled a criminal offense spike post-Covid, however we labored rapidly to place legal guidelines in place and ways that acquired violent offenders off our streets and gave our law enforcement officials extra instruments, which is why we’ve seen an enormous lower in crime,” mentioned Bowser, in a livestreamed response to the takeover. “Due to these efforts, we now have been capable of reverse that 2023 crime spike this 12 months. Crime isn’t simply down from 2023, it’s additionally down from 2019 earlier than the pandemic. We’re at a 30-year crime low.”
The forty seventh president’s govt order follows the assault of former Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) staffer, Edward Coristine. The 19-year-old was attacked by a bunch of youth in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 3, prompting the president to threaten a federal takeover of MPD.
In his declaration, the forty seventh president asserted that violent crime in D.C. threatens the operations of the federal authorities.
“The rise in violent crime within the coronary heart of our republic has penalties past the person tragedies which have dominated media protection. Such lawlessness additionally poses insupportable dangers to the important federal features that happen within the District of Columbia,” wrote the forty seventh president within the govt order. “Violence and crime hamper the recruitment and retention of important federal staff, undermine essential features of presidency and thus the well-being of the whole nation, and erode confidence within the power of the US.
“These circumstances are disgraceful anyplace, however significantly within the capital of our nation and the seat of the federal authorities,” he continued.
Nonetheless, present District crime knowledge doesn’t mirror the spike that the forty seventh president has instructed. In keeping with MPD, violent crime decreased by 26 p.c as of Aug. 11, 2025, in comparison with 2024. That is on high of a 35 p.c discount from 2023 to 2024.
Despite this, Bowser is legally required to adjust to the president’s directive as a result of D.C.’s restricted house rule authority, which she mentioned permits the federal authorities to intrude on the District’s autonomy in quite a few methods.
“We’re Americans. Our households go to warfare, we pay taxes and we uphold the tasks of citizenship. Whereas this motion at present is unsettling and unprecedented, I can’t say— given a number of the rhetoric of the previous— that we’re completely stunned,” mentioned Bowser. “I can say to D.C. residents that we’ll proceed to function our authorities in a method that makes you proud.”
U.S. Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi will lead the federal takeover of MPD, whereas Terry Cole, the brand new head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will act as interim federal commissioner of the police division.
Bowser and MPD Chief of Police Pamela Smith mentioned they might be coordinating with federal officers at a press convention on Aug. 11.
Different leaders have since spoken out on the forty seventh president’s govt order. Maryland Governor Wes Moore mentioned the president’s resolution not solely lacks seriousness, however is deeply harmful.
“As somebody who has served abroad in uniform and is commander-in-chief of the Maryland Guard, I take how, when and why we deploy members of our armed forces personally and severely. These actions by the president lack each knowledge and a battle plan,” mentioned Moore in an Aug. 11 assertion. “He’s merely utilizing honorable women and men as pawns to distract us from his insurance policies, which proceed to drive up unemployment and strip away well being care and meals help from those that want it most.”
In his assertion, Gov. Moore instructed that the president may look to his administration as a mannequin for how you can scale back violent crime, citing a 20 p.c discount in homicides statewide since he took workplace in 2023.
“We await outreach from the White Home in the event that they wish to have a critical dialog about public security,” mentioned Moore. “However, we gained’t maintain our breath.”
When the president introduced that he would deploy the Nationwide Guard throughout Washington, D.C., he additionally focused Baltimore. He described the town as, “to date gone,” that it’s not even talked about anymore.
In an Aug. 11 assertion on X, previously Twitter, Scott mentioned the remarks have been the forty seventh president’s newest try to attract consideration away from points he needs to be prioritizing, together with the financial system.
“In terms of public security in Baltimore, he ought to flip off the right-wing propaganda and take a look at the info,” mentioned Scott. “Baltimore is the most secure it’s been in over 50 years. Homicides are down 28 p.c this 12 months alone, reaching the bottom degree of any 12 months on report.”
He additionally acknowledged different cities who’ve labored to reinforce public security.
“It’s not simply Baltimore. Violent crime is at historic lows in cities throughout the nation beneath the management of mayors who’ve introduced collectively companions from regulation enforcement, the authorized system and communities to cut back violence,” Scott. “The president may study lots about management from them”
American Federation of Lecturers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten known as the transfer a, “crass spectacle from a president who cares extra about concentrating on, intimidating and taking part in king than the security of D.C. and its residents.”
She emphasised that placing MPD beneath federal management won’t make the typical D.C. resident really feel safer or present pathways to maintain District youth off the streets.
“The AFT has 1000’s of educators and staff who dwell and work in D.C. and the encompassing counties. We just lately introduced 1000’s of individuals right here for a convention. That is our metropolis,” mentioned Weingarten. “Clearly, we wish it to be secure–simply as we did on Jan. 6, 2021, when there was an precise riot on the streets. How ironic that the president was reluctant to deploy the Nationwide Guard then when requested by others to take action.”
Maryland Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D) criticized the order as an govt overreach that undermines the D.C.’s self-governance. She famous that in March, the District confronted a $1.1 billion price range deficit, brought on by congressional interference, that led to a hiring freeze in MPD and restrictions on extra time for regulation enforcement.
“The town of Washington, D.C. belongs to the nice folks of Washington, D.C., not the occupant of the White Home. If he truly cared in regards to the wellbeing of the folks of Washington, he wouldn’t have blocked D.C. from spending its personal cash in the best way it noticed match,” mentioned Alsobrooks. “This isn’t solely drastic govt overreach however the newest marker in how far this President is keen to go to assault our democracy.”
