United States President, Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will assume federal control of the Washington Metropolitan Police and will order the deployment of the National Guard in the nation's capital.
The measure, supported by the Home Rule Act of 1973, is justified on the grounds of restoring public order in the face of what Trump described as "special emergency conditions."
"I am officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, placing the Washington Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control," the president declared at a press conference at the White House. According to him, "something is out of control, but we're going to bring it under control very quickly, like we did at the southern border."
Trump despliega la Guardia Nacional y asume mando de la Policía en Washington.
Trump doesn't rule out intervening in other cities.
The current legislation grants the president the authority to take control of the local police for an initial period of 48 hours if there are exceptional circumstances that require its use for federal purposes.
To extend the measure, the president and members of the congressional committees related to the legislative affairs of the District of Columbia must be notified. If the intervention exceeds 30 days, it must become law.
Trump indicated that he plans to extend the intervention beyond the initial period, assuring that he will comply with the established procedure. "I'll make the appropriate notifications to Congress and the mayor," he stated. The action would not be limited solely to the capital. "We're not going to lose our cities over this, and this will go further," Trump warned.
Donald Trump acompañado por altos funcionarios de su gabinete.
Homelessness, another problem for the capital.
In addition to the deployment of the National Guard and the intervention of the local police, the president announced that his administration will promote measures to combat homelessness and urban decay in Washington. "We have slums here. We're going to eliminate them. I know it's not politically correct," he said, accompanied by senior members of his cabinet.
The decision represents a rare exercise of presidential authority over the internal security of the capital, a prerogative reserved for emergency scenarios.
The announcement reinforces Trump's approach toward greater centralized control in situations that demand a rapid, forceful, and coordinated response, with an emphasis on restoring order and public safety in critical areas of the country.
