Trump’s Threats to DC Home Rule Tee Up Contentious Week in House

President Donald Trump’s threat to “Federalize” DC Monday morning sets up a potential showdown between local leaders and the GOP as District Mayor Muriel Bowser prepares to head to the Hill this week.

Trump excoriated Democrat Bowser in a lengthy Truth Social post, saying she “informed the Federal Government that the Metropolitan Police Department will no longer cooperate with ICE in removing and relocating dangerous illegal aliens.” Trump’s police takeover of Washington ended last week, since the president can only use his emergency authority over the capital for 30 days without congressional action. But Bowser has cooperated with the administration and not publicly opposed National Guard troops staying.

“I’ll call a National Emergency, and Federalize, if necessary!!!” Trump added.

The rhetoric is heating up as House Republicans consider a slate of DC crime bills this week, including a measure that would lower the age a minor can be tried as an adult (H.R. 5140). Another bill would change the decades-old Home Rule Act to give the president sole authority to nominate judges to DC courts (H.R. 5125). The Rules Committee will meet Monday afternoon to tee up the bills for floor consideration.

Bowser and two other local officials will appear before the House Oversight Committee, which has jurisdiction over Washington, this Thursday. That hearing and Monday’s markup could be venues for a congressional airing of those grievances

Last week, congressional Republicans offered muted praise for Bowser’s acceptance of the National Guard. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other lawmakers allowed Trump’s 30-day national emergency to expire without congressional action, saying an extension was unnecessary because of Bowser’s cooperation with the administration.

“The mayor is pretty reasonable on this,” said Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), leader of the hard-right Freedom Caucus and a longtime critic of DC home rule, last week. But Trump’s post calls into question any goodwill between Bowser and congressional Republicans as the mayor prepares to face some of the most conservative lawmakers in the House this week.

Despite Bowser’s unusual partnership throughout the duration of Trump’s temporary takeover, the mayor has consistently been critical about the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement being used in the district.

In previous comments, the mayor has said ICE agents being in DC as part of the anti-crime push “has not worked,” and said she is greatly concerned about the increased presence of masked agents.

Bowser has been the highest-profile defender of the district. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton has been mostly absent during Trump’s takeover. Norton did attend Oversight hearings last week to argue against GOP-led DC crime bills, but she’s rebuffed interviews and kept a low profile. The 88-year-old longtime DC delegate has come under scrutiny over fitness for office and faces pressure to retire rather than seek another term in 2026.