In a significant escalation of tensions, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday, September 15, 2025, his intention to declare a national emergency and federalize Washington, D.C. This bold move comes in direct response to Mayor Muriel Bowser’s declaration that the city’s police would no longer cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The heart of the disagreement lies in the provision of data regarding individuals living in or entering the United States without legal documentation. Critics view Trump’s threat as a clear instance of federal overreach, deepening concerns about the balance of power between federal and local authorities.
This latest development follows a period of intense public outcry, as thousands of protesters demonstrated earlier this month against Trump’s August deployment of National Guard troops in the capital. That deployment, intended to “re-establish law, order, and public safety,” was a reaction to what Trump described as a ‘blight’ of crime on the city.
Through his platform, Truth Social, Trump proudly proclaimed, “In just a few weeks. The ‘place’ is absolutely booming… for the first time in decades, virtually NO CRIME.” He attributed Mayor Bowser’s non-cooperation with ICE to pressure from “Radical Left Democrats.”
It’s important to note that while the National Guard typically serves as a militia under the command of state governors, the D.C. National Guard falls directly under the President’s authority when called into federal service. This unique structure gives particular weight to Trump’s threat of federal intervention.