The nation’s capital filed a lawsuit Friday to block President Donald Trump‘s takeover of its police department, just hours after his administration escalated its intervention by appointing a federal official as the department’s emergency head.
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb sought an emergency restraining order in federal court, arguing that placing a federal appointee in charge of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is unlawful and threatens to “wreak operational havoc.”
The move followed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi‘s announcement Thursday night that Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole would assume the duties of police chief — including approval authority for all officer orders. The status of current Police Chief Pamela Smith, appointed by the mayor, was left unclear.
Schwalb contends the directive exceeds Trump’s legal authority and would “sow chaos” within MPD. “The administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call D.C. home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it,” he said.
The Justice Department declined comment on the lawsuit, while the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump’s police takeover is the latest in a series of moves testing the boundaries of presidential power. He has relied on obscure laws and a declared state of emergency to bolster his tough-on-crime rhetoric and advance plans for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. The action marks one of the most sweeping federal assertions over a local government in modern U.S. history.
While Washington has experienced spikes in crime and homelessness, its homicide rate remains lower than several other major U.S. cities, contradicting the administration’s portrayal of a public safety collapse.
On Thursday, Schwalb warned that Bondi’s directive was “unlawful” and instructed MPD officers to follow orders only from Chief Smith or other mayor-appointed officials. The city’s attorney general is independently elected and serves as its top legal officer — separate from the federally appointed U.S. attorney for D.C., a role currently held by former Fox News host and judge Jeanine Pirro. Trump also appointed Bondi as U.S. attorney general.
Bondi’s order came after Smith told MPD officers to share certain information with immigration authorities only regarding non-custodial individuals, such as during traffic stops. The Justice Department criticized Smith’s stance, saying it preserved “sanctuary policies.” Bondi rescinded that policy and others that limited immigration inquiries or barred arrests based solely on federal warrants, requiring all new directives to receive Cole’s approval.
Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back Thursday, writing on social media, “there is no statute that conveys the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.”
Under the Home Rule Act of 1973, D.C. elects its own mayor and council, though the president retains more power over the city than other local governments. The law allows presidential control over the police for up to 30 days without congressional approval. Trump is the first president to invoke that power since its passage and has suggested seeking an extension. Schwalb argues the law restricts the president’s role to requiring police services for federal purposes.
Residents have noticed a growing federal presence in recent days. National Guard troops are posted near landmarks, and Humvees line the streets by Union Station. Volunteers have assisted in clearing homeless encampments, though destinations for displaced residents remain unclear.
Homeland Security police stood outside Nationals Park during Thursday’s baseball game, DEA agents patrolled The Wharf, and Secret Service officers were spotted in Foggy Bottom.
Bowser, balancing tensions between the Republican White House and her Democratic constituency, was out of town Thursday but returned Friday.
Trump’s 30-day authority window coincides with an uptick in checkpoints and visible troop deployments. On Thursday night, officers set up a checkpoint in a busy nightlife district, prompting protests. The Pentagon said 800 National Guard members are now deployed for monument security, safety patrols, and beautification work.
National Guard Major Micah Maxwell said troops will assist in traffic control, crowd management, and community patrols, and have been trained in de-escalation tactics. While Guard deployments are common during major D.C. events like July 4, the current scope and duration have drawn heightened attention.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
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