Federal troops are patrolling the National Mall and neighborhoods across Washington in President Donald Trump’s extraordinary takeover of the police department…
Federal troops are patrolling the National Mall and neighborhoods across Washington in President Donald Trump’s extraordinary takeover of the police department in the nation’s capital.
Now the Trump administration is moving to install its own emergency police commissioner, a big step forward in one of the most sweeping uses of federal authority over a local government in modern times.
While Washington went to court on Friday to block Trump’s takeover, how it will play out and whether the federal government views this as a potential blueprint for dealing with other cities remains up in the air. Here’s what to know about the situation and what might come next:
The Republican president this week announced he’s taking control over Washington’s police department and activating National Guard troops to reduce crime, an escalation of his aggressive approach to law enforcement. But District of Columbia officials say the action isn’t needed, pointing out that violent crime in the district reached historic 30-year lows last year and is down significantly again this year.
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