President Orders National Guard to Take Control of Washington D.C.

Articles | August 11, 2025 | by Catholics for Catholics

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He cited the growing crime wave for the takeover. Still, troops can only detain people and hold them till police officers arrive.

By Catholics for Catholics

Enough is enough.

President Donald Trump declared that Washington D.C.’s current crime wave has prompted him to deploy National Guard Troops to patrol the nation’s capital. 

Trump signed an executive order declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia. He also signed a presidential memorandum to summon Washington’s National Guard.

Nevertheless, the National Guard troops would not have the authority to arrest people, although they can hold people until law enforcement arrives.

“This is Liberation Day in D.C. and we’re going to take our Capitol back,” Trump said at a press conference, according to The Epoch Times. “We’re taking it back under the authorities vested in me as the president of the United States.”

The Trump Admin announces plan to clean up DC crime. Do the protestors not want safe cities? pic.twitter.com/BRvDKekEbI

— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) August 11, 2025

According to The Times, the President called upon Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973, which puts control of the Metropolitan Police Department under the president for 48 hours. Trump can continue recommencing this control for up to 30 days while notifying Congress. After 30 days, Congress must approve of the action.

Directing things will be Attorney General Pam Bondi who is “taking command of the Metropolitan Police Department,” Trump said. He added that Terry Cole, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, is “designated as the interim federal commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department.”

Muriel Bowser, D.C.’s mayor said she did not receive any previous notice regarding the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. She termed the seizure “unsettling.”

“My message to residents is this,” Bowser said. “We know that access to our democracy is tenuous. That is why you have heard me and many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood.”