United States President Donald Trump has announced that he is placing the nation’s capital, Washington DC, under direct federal control and deploying the US National Guard to “re-establish law, order and public safety”. At a press conference on Monday, Trump declared it “liberation day” in DC, despite a lack of evidence supporting his claims of a crime spree in the city.
“I’m officially invoking Section 740, of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is, and placing the DC Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” Trump said. “I’m deploying the National Guard to help re-establish law, order and public safety in Washington, DC. They’re going to be allowed to do their job properly.” This move has sparked controversy, with many questioning the necessity of such action and potential implications for the city’s governance.
The decision comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions and scrutiny of Trump’s policies, both domestically and internationally. Recent developments, such as the upcoming meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have raised concerns about potential agreements or concessions that might be made without Ukraine’s input. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has staunchly rejected suggestions of “swapping territory” and emphasized that any deals without Ukraine’s involvement will not bring peace.
Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard has raised questions about the legal authority behind this move. The Insurrection Act, which authorizes the president to deploy federal troops to quell domestic violence, insurrections, and rebellions against US authority, is not being invoked. Instead, Trump appears to be relying on 10 USC § 12406, a law enacted in 1903 that allows the president to call up the National Guard in cases of rebellion or danger of rebellion against the US government. However, this authority is murky, and its relationship to the Insurrection Act is unclear, sparking debates about the legitimacy of Trump’s actions.
Critics argue that Trump’s deployment of the National Guard is an overreach of executive power and could lead to unnecessary militarization of civilian law enforcement. The Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the use of federal forces in domestic law enforcement, may be implicated in this situation. Furthermore, the deployment of National Guard troops could create risks to civilians and soldiers alike, particularly if they are not adequately trained for domestic law enforcement. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Trump’s actions will be received by the public, lawmakers, and the courts.