Mayor Bowser on Trump's Federal Takeover of DC Police: 'Unsettling & Unprecedented'

Federal Takeover of DC Police

• 🏛️ Mayor Bowser described President Trump's federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) as "unsettling and unprecedented."
• 📰 She stated that while the action was surprising, given past rhetoric, it was not entirely unexpected.
• 🗣️ Bowser emphasized her commitment to working daily to prevent the situation from becoming a "complete disaster."

Communication and Concerns

• 📞 Bowser confirmed that she was not informed about the announcement before it was made.
• 📈 She noted that the president frequently discusses crime and was previously briefed on DC's crime trends, which showed decreases.
• 📉 Bowser highlighted that crime in DC is down from 2023 and 2019, reaching a 30-year low in violent crime.

Executive Order and Legal Framework

• 📜 The executive order delegates requests for MPD services to Attorney General Bondi, who Bowser hopes to meet with soon.
• ⚖️ Bowser suggested that concerns about the president's ability to direct the MPD should be addressed through DC statehood.
• 🛡️ Similarly, she believes that control of the DC National Guard should have been granted to DC when Congress had the opportunity.

Law Enforcement and Military Use

• 👮 Bowser stressed the need for all law enforcement to be identifiable through uniforms, badges, and jackets.
• 🇺🇸 She stated her belief that it is illegal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil.