“This is Liberation Day in DC, and We’re Going to Take Our Capital Back”
President Trump Announces He is Invoking Section 740 of DC Home Act, Federalizing DC Police, and Sending in National Guard
President Trump on Monday announced that he is invoking Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act to place Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department under “direct federal control” and authorizing the Secretary of Defense to deploy National Guard troops in Washington, DC.
Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act allows the President to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department under “special conditions of an emergency nature.”
The President signed two executive actions on Monday, including invoking powers under section 740 and sending statutorily required letters to the DC Mayor and the necessary congressional committees. Section 740 requires the President to notify committee chairmen and the mayor in order to federalize the Metropolitan police for more than forty-eight hours.
He also signed a Presidential memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to utilize National Guard troops to clean up DC and authorizing state governors to use their National Guard troops at home. “We will bring in the military if it’s needed,” Trump told reporters.
“We’re formally declaring a public safety emergency. This is an emergency. This is a tragic emergency, and it’s embarrassing,” Trump said.
“This city will no longer be a sanctuary for illegal alien criminals. We will have full, seamless, integrated cooperation at all levels of law enforcement, and we’ll deploy officers across the district with an overwhelming presence.”
Trump also said he will be working with Republicans in Congress to change the statutes to get rid of no cash bail and “some of the other things” that empower criminals in DC and other major cities across the nation.