In a move to regain autonomy over its law enforcement, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) announced plans to bring back legislation that would give the District of Columbia full control of the D.C. National Guard and the Metropolitan Police Department. This effort follows a bold maneuver by then-President Donald Trump, who, amid dropping crime rates, took control over D.C.'s police and signaled the deployment of the National Guard within the city without local consent.
Crime in the nation's capital has seen a substantial decrease, "at a 30-year low in 2024 and a decrease of 26% this year compared to the same time period last year," according to Senator Van Hollen. Despite this trend, Trump's actions have sparked controversy and a discussion about the district's right to self-governance. Van Hollen expressed his staunch opposition to Trump's intervention, saying, "Trump’s raw authoritarian power grab in D.C. is part of a growing national crisis," according to Senator Van Hollen's official press release.
Additionally, Senator Van Hollen and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) co-authored a bipartisan bill to release over $1 billion of D.C.'s funds, which Senate Republicans had previously frozen. The legislation passed unanimously in the Senate; however, it has not yet been brought to a vote in the House, where it remains pending under Republican leadership. "Instead of commandeering the local police and deploying the military to the City's streets, Donald Trump should give D.C. back its money and get the hell out of the District’s way," Van Hollen said in the press release.
Congresswoman Norton pointed out that the recent federal actions highlight the need for D.C. statehood. "Until we get the full protections that statehood would provide, our bills repealing the president's authority to federalize the local D.C. police department and to give D.C.'s mayor control over the D.C. National Guard, like governors of states have over their National Guards, places D.C. closer to having control over some of its most vital affairs," Norton conveyed in the press release.
As September approaches, the upcoming Congressional session is expected to address the ongoing discussion surrounding home rule in the District of Columbia, examining the relationship between local governance and federal authority. Supporters of the proposed legislation state that the measures are intended to limit executive control over the District due to its unique constitutional status.
