Washington, Aug 13 – President Donald Trump said Wednesday that his administration will ask Congress for long-term authority to retain federal control over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, extending beyond the 30-day limit set by law.
Trump, who earlier this week ordered National Guard troops into the capital and assumed federal oversight of the D.C. police, said he expects strong Republican backing in Congress. “I think Republicans will support this almost unanimously,” he told reporters.
Under the 1973 Home Rule Act, the president can direct the D.C. mayor to place local police services at federal disposal for up to 48 hours. That authority can be extended to 30 days with congressional notification, which Trump has already done. Any period beyond that requires a joint resolution from both chambers of Congress.
The president said he would prefer congressional approval but left the door open to unilateral action if necessary. “If it’s a national emergency, I can do it without Congress. I don’t want to call it that—but if I have to, I will,” he said.
Trump also signaled plans for new legislation targeting crime in the capital, saying the federal presence must last longer than the 30-day cap. “We’re going to need a crime bill that will start with D.C. We’ll be asking for long-term extensions, because 30 days is not enough,” he added.
While Republicans control both the House and Senate, the measure would still need support from at least seven Democratic senators to clear the 60-vote hurdle in the upper chamber, where the GOP holds 53 seats.
The push comes despite declining crime rates in Washington. According to city police data, violent crime has dropped 26% so far this year, with robberies down 28%, continuing a downward trend that began after a spike in 2023. The Justice Department reported that violent crime in the capital fell to its lowest level in more than three decades last year.
