Trump’s DC federal takeover of local police ends as emergency declaration expires
President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration in Washington, D.C. expires at midnight, but federal law enforcement will continue to operate in the city. Here’s why.
Updated: 5:33 PM EDT Sep 10, 2025
President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration that gave him control over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan police force expires at midnight, ending his authority to use local police for federal law enforcement purposes.But the surge of federal law enforcement in the city will remain.During the 30-day declaration, local officers were required to assist federal agents. The end of the declaration, however, will not affect ICE, FBI, Border Patrol officers (CBP), and other federal agents who report directly to the president. Control of D.C.’s police will revert back to Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has stated that the city will no longer collaborate with ICE for immigration enforcement, though last week, Bowser signed an executive order formalizing local cooperation with federal forces. She clarified that the order would lay a framework for how the city would move forward after the emergency declaration.On Tuesday, Trump declared the federal takeover a success, celebrating with a dinner out in the city a block away from the White House. “Here I am standing out in the middle of the street. I wouldn’t have done this three months ago, four months ago. I certainly wouldn’t have done it a year ago,” he said. “This was one of the most unsafe cities in the country. Now, it’s as safe as there is in the country.”For weeks, President Trump appeared to focus on Chicago as a primary target, but Attorney General Pam Bondi noted Wednesday that leaders in Illinois have been uncooperative, causing that initial push to fizzle. President Trump also mentioned that his administration was working with the mayor and governor of a certain city and state to implement similar measures, though he did not disclose the location. Other cities the president has mentioned include Baltimore, New Orleans, and New York.Also on Wednesday, lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee considered at least a dozen bills that would expand the president’s unique and broad authority over D.C. and align with many of his own, stated goals. The proposals include granting the president, not voters, the power to choose the city’s attorney general, criminalizing camping in public places, and beautifying D.C. Watch the latest on the D.C. federal takeover:
President Donald Trump’s emergency declaration that gave him control over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan police force expires at midnight, ending his authority to use local police for federal law enforcement purposes.
But the surge of federal law enforcement in the city will remain.
During the 30-day declaration, local officers were required to assist federal agents. The end of the declaration, however, will not affect ICE, FBI, Border Patrol officers (CBP), and other federal agents who report directly to the president.
Control of D.C.’s police will revert back to Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has stated that the city will no longer collaborate with ICE for immigration enforcement, though last week, Bowser signed an executive order formalizing local cooperation with federal forces. She clarified that the order would lay a framework for how the city would move forward after the emergency declaration.
On Tuesday, Trump declared the federal takeover a success, celebrating with a dinner out in the city a block away from the White House.
“Here I am standing out in the middle of the street. I wouldn’t have done this three months ago, four months ago. I certainly wouldn’t have done it a year ago,” he said. “This was one of the most unsafe cities in the country. Now, it’s as safe as there is in the country.”
For weeks, President Trump appeared to focus on Chicago as a primary target, but Attorney General Pam Bondi noted Wednesday that leaders in Illinois have been uncooperative, causing that initial push to fizzle.
President Trump also mentioned that his administration was working with the mayor and governor of a certain city and state to implement similar measures, though he did not disclose the location.
Other cities the president has mentioned include Baltimore, New Orleans, and New York.
Also on Wednesday, lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee considered at least a dozen bills that would expand the president’s unique and broad authority over D.C. and align with many of his own, stated goals. The proposals include granting the president, not voters, the power to choose the city’s attorney general, criminalizing camping in public places, and beautifying D.C.
Watch the latest on the D.C. federal takeover:
