Norton Calls on House to Immediately Pass Her Bills Giving D.C. Control over National Guard and Preventing Federalization of D.C Police

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today called on the House to include her District of Columbia National Guard Home Rule Act, which would give the D.C. mayor control over the D.C. National Guard, in the fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the House Armed Services Committee is expected to pass as soon as this month and the House is expected to pass next month. The governors of the states and the three territories with National Guards control their respective National Guards. Currently, the President controls the D.C. National Guard. Norton also called on the House to pass her D.C. Police Home Rule Act, which would repeal the President's authority federalize the Metropolitan Police Department.

"The D.C. mayor knows best where and when to deploy the D.C. National Guard and to decide whether they should be armed," Norton said. "Under my bill, the President would retain the authority to federalize the D.C. National Guard in the same manner the President can federalize the National Guards of the states and territories, but D.C.'s mayor would have the same authority governors have to deploy the National Guard troops.

"The past week, and particularly last night, were a manifestation of what happens when D.C. officials are denied full authority to govern our city. Incidents spread across the District from upper Northwest to Georgetown and Northeast. Forebodingly, Mayor Bowser's office confirmed that the White House asked yesterday about its authority to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, clearly showing this President's unchecked thirst for power.

"Local officials – governors, and in this case, the D.C. mayor – have an expert, ground-level view of rapidly unfolding events and are best positioned to determine whether National Guard troops are necessary to keep the peace. Last night demonstrated that D.C. local officials must have the authority to determine for themselves whether and when to call in the D.C. National Guard. The best way to accomplish this is for the House Armed Services Committee to include my bill in the upcoming fiscal year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

"D.C. residents, facing mostly peaceful protests, are at the mercy of a President whose judgment he has shown cannot be trusted. Under the authority of this President, peaceful protestors have been assaulted with tear gas and rubber bullets. The President has threatened to further escalate the clashes by calling in the military. Last night it was reported that Mayor Bowser sought to deploy National Guard troops to specific areas and was denied. Although the overall problem can only be solved by D.C. statehood, the D.C. National Guard Home Rule Act would afford badly needed control and protection for this city immediately."

Norton has also introduced legislation to remove the President's authority over the Metropolitan Police Department and local prosecutions. Norton's D.C. Police Home Rule Act would repeal the provision in the Home Rule Act that gives the President the authority federalize the Metropolitan Police Department. While this authority appears never to have been used, questions about its use were raised by the Trump administration recently. The Home Rule Act provides that, "whenever the President of the United States determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist which require the use of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes, he may direct the mayor to provide him, and the mayor shall provide, such services of the Metropolitan Police force as the President may deem necessary and appropriate." Norton has also introduced legislation, the District of Columbia Local Prosecutor Home Rule Act of 2019, to give D.C. the exclusive authority to prosecute all local crimes. Currently, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia has the exclusive authority to prosecute most local crimes committed by adults.