In a sudden policy shift, the Trump administration has agreed to leave the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department under the control of its chief, reversing a move announced just days earlier. At the same time, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo directing D.C. officers to assist federal immigration authorities, even if local laws prohibit such cooperation.
The partial retreat follows a legal challenge filed by city officials seeking to block the federal takeover of Washington’s police force. Just one night before, the administration had appointed a federal official as emergency head of the department, effectively placing the city’s law enforcement under direct federal command.
Despite stepping back on the leadership change, Bondi emphasized that the administration would continue to press D.C. officials to help in the deportation of undocumented immigrants. In a social media post, Bondi accused D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb of obstructing efforts to improve public safety, while praising Mayor Muriel Bowser for her commitment to residents’ security.
Mayor Bowser’s office said it is reviewing the Justice Department’s new directive. Earlier, Bowser warned that a surge of federal officers had heightened anxiety among residents, and she expressed concern over the disruption caused by the initial takeover plan.
Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith condemned the administration’s first order as a threat to law and order. In court filings, Smith argued that sidelining her would undermine nearly three decades of established command structure and jeopardize public safety.
This clash underscores growing tensions in the nation’s capital, where a predominantly Democratic city faces unprecedented federal intervention. With the weekend looming, Washington residents are left watching to see how the unresolved dispute over policing authority and immigration policy will play out.
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