President Donald Trump reiterated his stance Wednesday evening that the federal government should “take over” Washington, D.C., as a GOP-led effort to repeal the city’s home rule continues to languish in Congress.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump stressed the need for stronger law enforcement and greater federal oversight. “I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order, make it absolutely flawlessly beautiful,” he said. “I think we should take over Washington, D.C. — make it safe.”
Trump’s comments come as Republicans in Congress push to repeal the District of Columbia's Home Rule Act, which has allowed the city to govern itself since 1974. Before then, the federal government held exclusive control over D.C., a situation some GOP lawmakers now want to revert to.
Earlier this month, Senator Mike Lee (R., Utah) and Representative Andy Ogles (R., Tenn.) introduced the BOWSER Act, named after D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, which would strip the city of its home rule powers. If passed, the bill would take effect a year later, removing the mayor and D.C. Council's authority over local governance.
While Lee attempted to push a similar measure last year, it failed to gain significant traction. Support for the bill among Republican lawmakers remains minimal, though the new GOP-controlled Congress could provide another opportunity for its passage.
Trump, who previously expressed admiration for Mayor Bowser, also voiced concerns about the leadership in the District. He argued that the city’s current administration has not effectively addressed issues such as crime, graffiti, and homelessness. Bowser responded with a social media statement pointing to the city’s efforts to tackle crime, citing a report showing a 35% drop in violent incidents in 2023 compared to the previous year.
While homicides increased last year, D.C. saw a reduction in other violent crimes, marking a 30-year low in violent incidents, according to former U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves. However, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has faced challenges, including staffing shortages and diminished funding since the pandemic. A recent report by the Manhattan Institute found that MPD made fewer arrests in 2023 compared to 2019, although arrest rates have seen some improvement since Pamela Smith became the new police chief in November 2023.
Trump commented positively on the MPD, calling it “great,” but adding that it was “not utilized properly.”
As part of his campaign promise, the president is expected to issue an executive order aimed at addressing D.C.’s issues, although he did not provide specific details on Wednesday. Trump did suggest that his administration was focused on improving the city to leave a better impression on foreign dignitaries, including French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who are expected to visit during his second term.
“All these people are coming over to see me,” Trump remarked. “You can’t have tents all over your once magnificent plazas and lawns. You just can’t do it.”
D.C. officials are bracing for the potential fallout from both the proposed federal takeover and the looming executive order, which could reshape the city’s governance and approach to local issues. The coming months will likely see further debates over the balance of power between the city and federal authorities.
