D.C. Attorney General Files Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Over ‘Hostile Takeover’ of Police
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb sues the Trump administration over an alleged “hostile takeover” of the city’s police, sparking a high-stakes legal battle over local autonomy.
D.C. Attorney General Sues Trump Administration Over ‘Hostile Takeover’ of Police
Washington, D.C. – The ongoing tension between the District of Columbia and the Trump administration has escalated sharply, as D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced a lawsuit accusing federal authorities of a “hostile takeover” of the city’s police department. The legal action follows President Donald Trump’s recent move to place the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control, a decision that has sparked intense political and legal debate.
According to the lawsuit, filed in D.C. Superior Court, the Attorney General’s office argues that the federal intervention undermines the city’s home rule authority and violates constitutional protections. Schwalb emphasized that the takeover disregards the will of D.C. residents and elected leaders, calling it “an unlawful power grab” that jeopardizes public trust in law enforcement.
“This is not just about control of the police,” Schwalb stated at a press conference. “It’s about defending the fundamental rights of the people of the District to govern themselves without interference from the federal executive branch.”
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to immediately halt the Trump administration’s directive, which transferred operational authority from D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith to a federally appointed law enforcement commissioner. The new commissioner reportedly has close ties to the administration and was given broad powers to direct policing strategies, resource allocation, and public safety policy.
Federal officials, however, have defended the decision, arguing that it was necessary to address what they describe as “escalating violence and disorder” in the capital. A spokesperson for the Justice Department said the move was aimed at “restoring law and order” and claimed it was within the president’s emergency powers.
Critics of the takeover, including several members of Congress, contend that the move is politically motivated and part of a broader effort to diminish local autonomy in D.C., a city that has long sought full statehood. House Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton condemned the administration’s actions, calling them “an affront to democracy” and warning that they set a dangerous precedent for federal overreach.
The lawsuit has already drawn national attention, with legal experts predicting that the case could reach the Supreme Court. Constitutional scholars say the outcome could have far-reaching implications not only for D.C. governance but also for the balance of power between local jurisdictions and the federal government.
Meanwhile, community groups in Washington have voiced concerns over the potential impacts on policing. Activists fear that the takeover could lead to more aggressive enforcement tactics and weaken accountability to local residents.
As the legal battle unfolds, D.C. officials remain adamant about defending their right to self-governance. “We will fight this every step of the way,” Schwalb said. “The people of the District deserve a police force that answers to them—not to political appointees in the White House.”
