D.C. SUES Trump Admin Over Police Takeover

It appears D.C. officials do not want their city to be safe again.

Washington D.C.’s Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over their move to take command of the D.C. police department.

In the lawsuit, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb claimed the Trump administration violated the Home Rule Act and further explained that the takeover was “hostile.”

CNN provided more details on D.C. officials’ latest legal move:

DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration over its moves to take over the city’s police department and appoint an emergency commissioner, the latest sign of pushback from district officials against the federal takeover.

“By declaring a hostile takeover of (Metropolitan Police Department), the Administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District’s right to self-governance and putting the safety of DC residents and visitors at risk,” Schwalb said in a statement. “The Administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call DC home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”

DC is also seeking a temporary restraining order.

The case has been assigned to federal district Judge Ana Reyes, an appointee of former President Joe Biden. A hearing has been scheduled for 2 p.m.

It comes after Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday evening ordered the city’s mayor and police department to accept Terry Cole, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, as the district’s “emergency police commissioner” and give him full control of the department during the federal takeover — quickly drawing rebukes from the district’s mayor and attorney general, who suggested they would not comply.

NEW: @DCAttorneyGen is suing in federal court to stop the Trump admin's takeover of the DC police department. he says the admin "is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District’s right to self-governance" https://t.co/zAKI6HJiuU pic.twitter.com/CPKl81iUJb

— Andrew Giambrone (@AndrewGiambrone) August 15, 2025

Since the Trump admin has taken over the police force in D.C., Humvees have been spotted at Union Station in downtown D.C.

Omg. Humvees are currently surrounding Union Station in Washington, DC and a CNN reporter says less people are loitering outside.

God Bless Donald Trump. Bring this to every major city in America. pic.twitter.com/RxGq9aTems

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) August 14, 2025

Fox News reported the White House’s response to the recent pushback from Democrats:

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson sounded off in a statement emailed to Fox News Digital.

ADVERTISEMENT

“President Trump is taking bold action to address the out-of-control crime that has been plaguing Washington D.C. for far too long. But instead of supporting what should be a bipartisan measure to Make DC Safe Again, Democrats are burying their heads in the sand, denying there is a problem, and carrying the torch for dangerous criminals that terrorize DC communities,” Jackson asserted.

“DC residents know the reality on the ground – crime was out of control and President Trump’s actions are making the city safer. The left’s refusal to support widely popular issues with the American public – like stopping violent crime – are why their approval ratings are at historic lows and will continue to tank,” she added.

The House Democrats introducing the joint resolution include Reps. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Robert Garcia of California, and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, while Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., will introduce it in the upper chamber, according to a House Judiciary Committee Democrats press release.