Trump Threatens to Federalize D.C. Police as Bowser Pushes Back

September 15, 2025

President Donald Trump has threatened to federalize Washington D.C.'s police department again after Mayor Muriel Bowser declared that local officers would not assist federal immigration enforcement operations. This confrontation follows the recent expiration of Trump's 30-day emergency takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) that had placed city police under federal control and required them to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. Bowser has maintained that immigration enforcement is not the responsibility of local police, stating "Immigration enforcement is not what MPD does.

Who is affected

Washington D.C. residents
Metropolitan Police Department officers
Immigrant communities in Washington D.C.
Mayor Muriel Bowser and her administration
D.C. Council members
Federal immigration agents (ICE)

What action is being taken

Mayor Bowser is refusing to have MPD officers assist with federal immigration enforcement operations
Trump is threatening to declare another national emergency to federalize the police again
Bowser is maintaining ongoing cooperation with federal officers on other matters through an executive order
D.C. Council members are criticizing Bowser's approach, suggesting it legitimizes federal overreach

Why it matters

The conflict represents a struggle over local versus federal control of law enforcement
It impacts community trust in police, particularly in immigrant communities
The situation tests the limits of presidential authority over local governance
It affects D.C.'s autonomy as Trump attempts to expand federal control
It raises questions about the appropriate role of local police in immigration enforcement
The outcome could set precedents for federal intervention in other cities

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer