Democrats introduce measure to terminate Trump's D.C. takeover

Axios ^ | August 15, 2025 | Andrew Solender

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Why it matters: The measure is an extreme long-shot, but it is a show of strong Democratic opposition to a move that many in the party say amounts to a chilling and unprecedented power-grab.

• Axios was first to report on Wednesday that Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, planned to introduce a measure terminating the crime emergency.

Driving the news: Raskin is introducing the resolution along with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), House Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).

• The legislation would end the "crime emergency" that Trump declared under the Home Rule Act, which allowed him to temporarily federalize the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
• The resolution argues that Trump "has failed to identify special conditions of an emergency nature" and isn't authorized to federalize the MPD under the Home Rule Act — only direct it to assist federal law enforcement.
• It also notes that violent crime in D.C. has "declined for the past two years and currently stands at a 30-year low," and points to the federal government recently shortchanging the city's budget by $1 billion.

What they're saying: "Trump has made clear that his efforts in D.C. ... are part of a broader plan to militarize and federalize the streets of cities around America whose citizens voted against him," Raskin said in a statement.

• "In any event, there is no federal emergency justifying such a takeover even if Congress sought to use its lawmaking power to effectuate it," he added.
• Holmes Norton, D.C.'s non-voting delegate to Congress, said in a statement: "No emergency exists in D.C. that the president did not create himself, and he is not using the D.C. Police for federal purposes, as required..."

[E. Pluribus Unum]

"Trump has made clear that his efforts in D.C. ... are part of a broader plan to militarize and federalize the streets of cities around America whose citizens voted against him," Raskin said in a statement.

Ratskin is projecting again.

[BenLurkin]

The Democrat Party IS the party of crime.

Has been for a long time.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Dems NEED crime to be high, because the criminals are the ones who vote Democrat that’s why

[metmom]

TRUE!!!

What they're saying: "Trump has made clear that his efforts in D.C. ... are part of a broader plan to militarize and federalize the streets of cities around America whose citizens voted against him," Raskin said in a statement.

In reality, it's BS virtue signaling. Trump has every legal and Constitutional right to do this and I don't see how they can stop it.

[Seaplaner]

Saw this coming.

The power-mad Dems apparently would choose to allow DC peeps to get hurt by denying them fed law enforcement in order to prevent Trump from an obvious victory.

Am I missing something here?

[mmichaels1970]

This might be one that loses them some support. I know a couple of older TDS people that actually support the federalization.

[Lockbox]

If you use say NYC murder rate per 100,000 people, Washington DC has 100 extra citizens murdered per year! How these Libs can justify such killing is beyond me. It is almost as if the politicians stood outside Auschwitz and demanded Rights for the Nazis!

Note to Libs, you throw around the Nazis term, do not be surprised when it is returned……..

[PGalt]

TRUE

[liberalh8ter]

“Strong Democratic opposition”…… like that’s unique? They strongly oppose everything they didn’t impose.

[fruser1]

Lol, Raskin’s district is one that will be summarily invaded by legions of homeless migrating along the eastern side of the Potomac out of DC.

[The Free Engineer]

They are afraid of poor blacks who are terrified by criminals might come to appreciate Trump.

[Belteshazzar]

It is difficult to take seriously a congressman with a little boy’s first name.

[Jim W N]

This needs BIGLY PUSH BACK!!!

Who’s going to introduce measure to put DC back into its constitutional parameters and limitations (US Const., Art. I, Sec. 8, Cl, 17)?

For instance, the Constitution mandates the size of the location of the federal gov’t - Washington D.C. - to not exceed ten miles square.

The actual area of Washington D.C. is 68 square miles.

Another in a long line of reasons to nuke the 80+%, $3+ trillion unconstitutional portion of the feds.

[shelterguy]

“””Ratskin is projecting again. “””

I have enjoyed watching him melt down on msnbc lately.

[bigbob]

I think many do. In some ways, the best outcome would be for Trump to be forced to stop and withdraw the federal forces, the crime rate would skyrocket overnight and DC residents would be clamoring to get them back.

[shotgun]

It’s so unprecedented...

this action is actually in the DC Charter

I hate democrats and the media eat up their shit like its ice cream

[Dennis M.]

I asked my friendly neighborhood robot and got this:

2023 per 100K, approx numbers:
Homicide, DC-30 NY-5
Robbery, DC-400 NY-150
Aggravated Assault, DC-600, NY-350
Burglary, DC-400, NY-200
Motor Vehicle Theft, DC-800 NY-300

DC really sucks.

[Texas Eagle]

The party of slavery. The party of The KKK. The party of Jim Crow. The party of segregation. And now the party of criminals and gang bangers.

At least they're consistent.

[packrat35]

No one really believes crime is at a 30 year low in DC.

They keep saying that to hate on President Trump, but no one really believes it.

[cableguymn]

how many of them are people with dirt on democrats?

I mean some just shoot themselves in the back of the head 3 or 4 times, but some are murdered too..