After weeks of political balancing, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is preparing for the expiration of President Donald Trump’s emergency order that placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. The 30-day takeover, imposed to combat rising crime, ends Wednesday, closing a turbulent chapter that tested Bowser’s ability to push back against federal overreach while addressing concerns about public safety.
Neither chamber of the Republican-controlled Congress plans to extend Trump’s authority, which could have triggered a showdown with Senate Democrats’ filibuster. Instead, Bowser has worked to present herself as cooperative with federal law enforcement while signaling opposition to militarized patrols in the nation’s capital. Her strategy has earned her rare nods of approval from GOP leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
White House officials credited Bowser for “sustained partnership” that helped reduce crime, even as she criticized the deployment of armed National Guard troops and masked federal agents. The mayor praised other agencies, such as the Justice Department, for aiding local police stretched thin by staffing shortages. “We don’t need a presidential emergency,” Bowser said last week. “We have a framework to request or use federal resources in our city.”
The mayor’s cautious cooperation has not silenced critics at home. Progressive councilmembers blasted Trump’s actions as a “power grab,” while some residents questioned Bowser’s willingness to accept federal support that included controversial ICE raids. At-Large Councilwoman Christina Henderson said Bowser has been forced to walk “an even tighter” tightrope with Republicans controlling Congress.
Bowser’s balancing act was on display Friday when she joined federal officials to announce arrests in the killing of congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym. Her emphasis on safety echoed remarks from centrist Democrats, such as Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who praised her response as pragmatic.
Still, Republicans remain divided. Some, like Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), supported federal involvement in D.C. but opposed expanding it to other cities. Others, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), openly doubted Bowser’s ability to maintain safety once Trump’s order lapses.
As the emergency winds down, Bowser faces the challenge of proving she can chart her own course—without federal control but under continued political scrutiny.
