Federal judge threatens orders to limit control of Trump police

Friday’s judge weighed the restrictions Trump administration Terry Cole, the chief of the D.C., suggested that the chief of police is illegal to control the police department in Washington, D.C.

Judge Ana Reyes provided attorneys to the Department of Justice and the District of Columbia government until the evening reached a deal that restricted Cole’s authority, otherwise she would issue a temporary restraining order.

Biden-appointed Reyes said the executive order announced by President Donald Trump declared a broader issue of a crime emergency in the country’s capital would be resolved at a court hearing next week.

In the near future, whether it reaches an agreement with the DC administration or is subject to court orders, the Trump administration will still have a large control over the Metropolitan Police Department.

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Reyes called an emergency hearing after DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb sued to prevent Trump from taking over law enforcement in Washington, D.C. Schwarb believes that the move is unconstitutional and violates the Domestic Rule Act, which grants DC residents the ability to govern themselves.

The hearing was a minor setback for the government, as Reyes said Cole had to provide any further instructions to the police force through Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Schwalb [the MPD] It has been resolved today, and legally it is under the mayor’s appointed chief of police. ”

But the law also means Ball must have serious respect for Cole, which means he is likely to be able to continue to enforce the Trump administration’s Police priorities 30 days in DC regarding immigration and homelessness.

Justice Department attorney Yaakov Roth argued on behalf of the government that the president “has a lot of discretion in determining what is necessary and appropriate.”

Bowser and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, DD.C. Participated in the hearing at E. Barrett Predethman Federal Courthouse. Outside the building, dozens of people gathered to protest the federal takeover, which also included hundreds of National Guard soldiers who activated DC. More protesters, including those of the Free DC movement, appeared in the courtroom, highlighting the tensions about Trump’s orders.

“What we know is that DC residents are worried and worried, and we have a large number of federal officials,” Bowser told reporters. “The Chief [Pamela] Smith’s job this week is to make sure that if there are, and that when there are federal officials, they are using strategically. ”

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Trump nominates Terry Cole as the next Narcotics Enforcement Administration. (AP/Virginia.gov)

At the beginning of the hearing, Reyes observed that she would have the first judge to rule that the president has the authority to temporarily control the Metropolitan Police Department since Congress passed the Congressional Rule Act in 1973, under the Domestic Rule Act, under which she emphasized the importance of the case.

The judge made it clear that she did not intend to immediately determine whether there was a criminal emergency, as Trump said in his execution order, but some temporary resolutions are still needed.

Reyes told both sides.

Reyes is known for presiding over a fast-paced court that left litigants on their toes and put in careful moderation on Friday.

She told attorney Mitchell Reich that she debated on behalf of the Attorney General of Washington, D.C.

Schwalb’s lawsuit challenges Trump’s executive order under Section 740 of the Domestic Rule Act Pam Bondi On Thursday, the latest order attempted to place Cole as emergency commissioner for the DC Police Force. Schwab’s office believes the move is unprecedented and could “cause great damage” to the police department.

Schwalb urged the court to block two orders from the Trump administration, noting that under the Domestic Domination Act, the federal government temporarily revoked DC police officers that “do not authorize the usurpation of power over the region over its own government.”

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Police established a roadside inspection station on 14th Northwest Street, Washington, DC on August 13, 2025 (tasos katopodis/getty image)

“They violated the autonomy of the region and put the safety of DC residents and tourists at risk,” he said.

Critics have articulated Trump’s executive order, saying it does not reflect any real emergency in the U.S. capital, and the decline in violent crime (although the exact number remains the point of debate).

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Norm Eisen, a lawyer under President Barack Obama, told reporters Thursday that Trump’s order in DC was the latest order to “attack the rule of law” by his second president, all involving the declaration of various forms of “state of emergency” as a means to revoke normal policy production.

Eisen said Trump announced a fake emergency in Washington, D.C. “There is no ’emergency’ to this action against the MPD or the federal army is based.”

Jessica Sonkin contributed to the report.