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The case argues that Trump exceeded his authority under the Home Rule Act of 1973 when he declared a local crime emergency to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department. The lawsuit was filed after Trump invoked a section of the federal law to intervene in D.C.’s police force.
Schwalb cited language from the provision, which states that the president’s ability to federalize the Washington, D.C., police force is limited to “federal purposes.” According to the suit, the law does not permit a full takeover but only requires Mayor Muriel Bowser to provide services of the department to the federal government.
“By illegally declaring a takeover of MPD, the Administration is abusing its temporary, limited authority under the law,” Schwalb said in a statement. “This is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it.”
The lawsuit asserts that Trump’s actions constitute an abuse of power and aim to preserve D.C.’s autonomy under the Home Rule Act.
Source link: [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/15/washington-dc-sues-trump-police-takeover/85673364007/](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/15/washington-dc-sues-trump-police-takeover/85673364007/)
