Nationwide Guard personnel hold watch as vacationers arrive on the entrance to Union Station close to the Capitol, in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
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J. Scott Applewhite/AP
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration, stepping up its crackdown on policing within the nation’s capital, on Thursday named the top of the Drug Enforcement Administration to be Washington’s “emergency police commissioner” with all of the powers of the police chief — a big transfer that will increase nationwide management over the town as a part of the federal authorities’s law-enforcement takeover.
Lawyer Basic Pam Bondi mentioned in a directive issued Thursday night that DEA boss Terry Cole will assume “powers and duties vested within the District of Columbia Chief of Police.” The Metropolitan Police Division “should obtain approval from Commissioner Cole” earlier than issuing any orders, Bondi mentioned. It was not instantly clear the place the transfer left Pamela Smith, the town’s present police chief, who works for the mayor.
D.C. Lawyer Basic Brian Schwalb responded late Thursday that Bondi’s directive was “illegal,” arguing that it couldn’t be adopted by the town’s police power.
He mentioned native officers should proceed to observe Smith’s orders below Schwalb’s interpretation of the legislation, establishing a possible authorized conflict between the closely Democratic district and the Republican administration.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser wrote on social media that “there isn’t a statute that conveys the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.”
Bondi’s directive got here hours after Smith directed MPD officers to share data with immigration businesses relating to individuals not in custody — corresponding to somebody concerned in a site visitors cease or checkpoint. The Justice Division mentioned Bondi disagreed with the police chief’s directive as a result of it allowed for continued enforcement of “sanctuary insurance policies.”
Bondi mentioned she was rescinding that order in addition to different MPD insurance policies limiting inquires into immigration standing and stopping arrests primarily based solely on federal immigration warrants. All new directives should now obtain approval from Cole, the lawyer basic mentioned.
The police takeover is the newest transfer by President Donald Trump to check the boundaries of his authorized authorities to hold out his agenda, counting on obscure statutes and a supposed state of emergency to bolster his tough-on-crime message and his plans to hurry up the mass deportation of individuals within the U.S. illegally.
It additionally marks some of the sweeping assertions of federal authority over a neighborhood authorities in fashionable occasions. Whereas Washington has grappled with spikes in violence and visual homelessness, the town’s murder price ranks under these of a number of different main U.S. cities and the capital is just not within the throes of the general public security collapse the administration has portrayed.
The late-night announcement got here after an eventful day within the ongoing federal operation. Smith’s earlier directive successfully introduced collectively Trump’s strikes on metropolis legislation enforcement and his nationwide efforts to curb immigration, and Trump had praised it within the hours earlier than Bondi’s announcement.
“That is a really constructive factor, I’ve heard that simply occurred,” Trump mentioned of Smith’s order. “That is an amazing step. That is an amazing step in the event that they’re doing that.”
A inhabitants already tense from days of ramp-up started seeing extra vital exhibits of power throughout the town Thursday. Nationwide Guard troops watched over a few of the world’s most famous landmarks and Humvees took place in entrance of the busy most important practice station. Volunteers helped homeless individuals go away long-standing encampments — to the place, precisely, was typically unclear.
Division of Homeland Safety police stood exterior Nationals Park earlier than and after a sport Thursday between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies. Drug Enforcement Administration brokers patrolled The Wharf, a well-liked nightlife space, whereas Secret Service officers patrolled the Foggy Backside neighborhood.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser, strolling a tightrope between the Republican White Home and the constituency of her largely Democratic metropolis, was out of city Thursday for a household dedication in Martha’s Winery however can be again Friday, her workplace mentioned.
A lift in police exercise, federal and in any other case
For an already cautious Washington, Thursday marked a notable — and extremely seen — uptick in presence from the earlier two days. The visibility of federal forces across the metropolis, together with in lots of high-traffic areas, was placing to residents going about their lives. Trump has the ability to take over federal legislation enforcement for 30 days earlier than his actions should be reviewed by Congress, although he has mentioned he’ll re-evaluate as that deadline approaches.
The response earlier than Thursday had been gradual and, by all appearances, low key. However on Wednesday evening, officers arrange a checkpoint in one in all D.C.’s in style nightlife areas, drawing protests. The White Home mentioned 45 arrests had been made Wednesday evening, with 29 individuals arrested for residing within the nation illegally; different arrests included for distribution or possession of medication, carrying a hid weapon and assaulting a federal officer.
Troops had been stationed exterior the Union Station transportation hub because the 800 Guard members who’ve been activated by Trump begin in on missions that embrace monument safety, group security patrols and beautification efforts, the Pentagon mentioned.
“They may stay till legislation and order has been restored within the District as decided by the president, standing because the gatekeepers of our nice nation’s capital,” Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson mentioned. “The Nationwide Guard is uniquely certified for this mission as a community-based power with sturdy native ties and disciplined coaching.”
Wilson mentioned the troops will not be armed and declined to provide extra particulars on what the protection patrols or beautification efforts would entail or what number of Guard members have already been despatched out on the streets.
Nationwide Guard Main Micah Maxwell mentioned troops will help legislation enforcement in quite a lot of roles, together with site visitors management posts and crowd management. The Guard members have been skilled in de-escalation techniques and crowd management tools, Maxwell mentioned.
The White Home mentioned Thursday that Guard members aren’t making arrests however are “defending federal belongings, offering a secure atmosphere for legislation enforcement officers to make arrests, and deterring violent crime with a visual legislation enforcement presence.”
Though the present deployment is happening below unprecedented circumstances, Nationwide Guard troops are a semi-regular presence in D.C., sometimes getting used throughout mass public occasions just like the annual July 4 celebration. They’ve recurrently been used previously for crowd management in and round Metro stations.
Trump on Thursday denied that the federal legislation enforcement officers he despatched into Washington’s streets to struggle crime have been diverted from precedence assignments like counterterrorism. Requested if he was involved about that, Trump mentioned he is utilizing a “very small power” of troopers and that metropolis police are actually allowed to do their job correctly amidst his safety lockdown.
For homeless residents, an unsure time is at hand
In the meantime, a couple of dozen homeless residents in Washington packed up their belongings with assist from volunteers from charitable teams and staffers from some metropolis businesses. Objects largely weren’t forcibly thrown out by legislation enforcement, however a rubbish truck idled close by.
A number of protesters held indicators shut by, some important of the Trump administration. As soon as the residents had left, a building automobile from a metropolis company cleared by way of the stays of the tents.
The departures had been voluntary, however they got here in response to a transparent risk from the Trump administration. Advocates count on legislation enforcement officers to fan out throughout D.C. within the coming days to forcibly take down any remaining homeless encampments. In Washington Circle, which nonetheless comprises just a few tents, metropolis employees put up indicators saying “basic cleanup of this public house” beginning at 10 a.m. Monday.
