Muriel Bowser slammed Trump’s federal takeover of D.C. police as “unsettling” and vowed to struggle what she known as a “so-called emergency.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser known as out President Donald Trump’s takeover of the D.C. police division on Monday (August 11) as each “unsettling and unprecedented” throughout a press briefing, pushing again on what she described as a “so-called emergency” used to justify federal management of the town’s legislation enforcement.

The D.C. Mayor acknowledged the president’s authority underneath the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which permits a brief 30-day federal takeover within the title of public security, however made clear she discovered the transfer extremely irregular. 

“I’m going to work every day to make sure it’s not a complete disaster,” Bowser mentioned. “Let me put it that way.”

Trump’s order, introduced over the weekend, locations the Metropolitan Police Department underneath federal command and deploys officers from a number of companies throughout the town. 

The president claimed the motion was essential to “stop violent crime” and clear up the town, together with clearing homeless encampments and threatening to herald the National Guard.

Bowser, nonetheless, pointed to knowledge displaying violent crime within the District had dropped to a 30-year low, with a 26% lower in violent incidents and an total 7% dip in crime this yr. 

“We’re going to work every day to get this emergency put to an end — I’ll call it the ‘so-called emergency,’” she mentioned.

The mayor additionally famous that whereas the federal intervention was disturbing, it wasn’t totally surprising given the administration’s previous rhetoric. 

Donald Trump Plans To Force Unhoused People Out Of D.C.

Democratic leaders throughout the nation have echoed Bowser’s considerations, calling the takeover extreme and politically motivated. 

Critics argue the transfer is much less about crime and extra about optics, primarily as federal brokers in marked autos now patrol high-traffic areas and identified hotspots.

Trump’s directive contains plans to take away unhoused people from public areas, stating they need to “move out immediately,” whereas saying these committing crimes can be jailed. 

BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump is DEPLOYING the National Guard in DC to EVICT homeless folks. pic.twitter.com/vy3fGoFVv8

— Brian Baez (@MentallyDivine) August 11, 2025

The White House has not offered a timeline for when federal management will finish.

Related