Congress has given the President the power to take control of the D.C. local police for up to 30 days "for federal purposes," and to deploy the (tiny) D.C. National Guard.

As today's "One First" explains, that's the full extent of what the President can do to "federalize" D.C. without new statutes:

Like any federal enclave, the federal government has plenary power over the District of Columbia. But Congress has delegated most of that power to local officials; it would take new laws to undo that.

172. "Federalizing" D.C.

Like any federal enclave, the federal government has plenary power over the District of Columbia. But Congress has delegated most of that power to local officials; it would take new laws to undo that.

Replies

  1. Yes, yes. Until SCOTUS's next open-ended emergency order permitting activity heretofore universally understood to be per se unconstitutional.

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  2. Trump seizes control of the Washington DC police department, even though the crime rate is dropping. The DC police came to our Capitol, on Jan 6th, to help put down the Insurrection. Trump won't let that happen next time.

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  3. Thank you for writing this, Steve. I'm watching LIVE on NBC4 local now. There's a home rules that needs to be carefully looked at. Your piece helps to clarify the situations. I appreciate you.

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  4. Is it the DC guard? I can't find any info on that. In 2020 he called up the Utah guard to DC and local scuttlebutt from my hometown in Utah is that he chose them out of a belief that the reddest state has the most loyal, pro-Trump national guard.

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  5. In 2024, when Project 2025 was briefly talked about, CNN hard the journalistic responsibility to dig in and thoroughly air it's contents. Each day pages could have been read and explained what the new GOP was trying to do. Voters informed. But no, they didn't. Trump shills ran the show. Acosta quit.

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  6. What ARE the FEDERAL (not political) purposes? What are the "special conditions of an emergency nature," given the issue is just normal city crime? All the EO gives are falsehoods re DC crime rates, trifling words re care for federal workers, & BS re his "solemn duty...laws are faithfully executed."

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 740 of the District of

    Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia

    By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 740 of the District of

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  7. "The President can, under the Home Rule Act, take control of the MPD for up to 48 hours during a declared emergency. This is limited to situations where the President deems the MPD's services are needed for federal purposes. "

    48 hours. Only.

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  8. AND it will still be 30 days of hell on earth for DC residents...THIS POS will start riots for it's purposes...

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  9. How about the question that only democrats get asked, how is this being paid for?

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  10. "that's the full extent of what the President can do to "federalize" D.C. without new statutes:"

    Why do you think he'll pay any attention to the current statutes? No one holds him accountable, and he knows it.

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  11. Steve, I really appreciate you explaining this for us! What is your take on the DOJ replacing the police chief with an “emergency commissioner” and rescinding immigration directives w/r/t immigration policies? Do those fall under “federal purposes” or is the administration overstepping?

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