Norton Statement After President Trump Federalizes D.C. Police and Activates D.C. National Guard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After President Trump announced that he is federalizing D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), for the first time in history, and activating the D.C. National Guard (DCNG) to address crime in the District, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said that the decision is counterproductive, potentially dangerous, and an egregious assault on D.C. home rule.

“President Trump’s decision to federalize MPD and activate the D.C. National Guard to address crime is an historic assault on D.C. home rule, is a counterproductive, escalatory seizure of D.C.’s resources to use for purposes not supported by D.C. residents, and is more evidence of the urgent need to pass my D.C. statehood bill,” Norton said. “Crime in D.C. reached a 30-year low in 2024 and is down 26% this year compared to the same time period last year. The administration is justifying the decision by misleadingly citing years-old statistics.

“If the federal government wanted to be helpful, it could confirm judges to the D.C. Courts, which face a perpetual vacancy crisis due to inaction in the Senate. We should pass my D.C. Courts Home Rule Act to give the D.C. Council authority over the jurisdiction and organization of the local D.C. courts. Congress should also pass my bill to expedite the appointment of local D.C. judges. Currently, 20 percent of the D.C. Superior Court is vacant, significantly impeding D.C.’s ability to try criminal cases in court, harming public safety and access to justice.

“It does not escape me that the president is calling in the DCNG on the pretext of a surge in crime that the numbers do not support, while he was nowhere to be found for hours on January 6, 2021, as D.C. officials tried to get him to mobilize the DCNG as the U.S. Capitol was under siege. The DCNG should be under control of D.C.’s chief executive, the same way governors control their Guard units.

“There are more than 700,000 D.C. residents, and they are worthy and capable of governing themselves. The ultimate solution to ensure D.C. has control of its own resources is passage of my D.C. statehood bill, which would provide D.C. the same protections the states enjoy.”

The president controls the DCNG, unlike state National Guard units which are controlled by governors. As the U.S. Capitol was under attack on January 6, 2021, D.C.'s mayor was unable to mobilize the DCNG, wasting hours trying to get a response from the White House and potentially costing lives. Norton and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have previously introduced bills to give the D.C. Mayor control of the D.C. National Guard and to repeal the president’s authority to federalize MPD.

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