DEA’s Terry Cole designates overseeing DC police under Trump order

Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole, a new designated member of the federal government to help run Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Departmentvowed to let local police “do their job again” to control the rise of crime.

Cole was defeated by Attorney General Pam Bondi after the Trump administration announced major interventions in crimes in the national capital on Monday. The move comes after several high-profile violent crimes, including the murder of Congress trainees.

“We can’t turn a blind eye,” Cole told Fox News’ “Stories” Tuesday. “We have had a huge collaboration, a huge Intel sharing, and most encouraging, police are looking forward to getting the job done again.”

Cole’s role is defined as “a designated person during the emergency declared by the president, in order to direct the mayor of the District of Columbia to provide services provided, according to an order issued by Bondi on Friday. [MPD] The Attorney General believes that it is necessary and appropriate. ”

“Attorney General Bondy’s new order is stronger because this replacement order is not just about revoking a bad MPD order, it requires full cooperation between the MPD and federal immigration authorities,” a spokesman for the Justice Department told Fox News figures in an email Saturday.

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“We are not backing down because President Trump is still within the scope of the law to determine what is necessary and appropriate,” the spokesperson added.

Washington, DC, Police Chief Pamela Smith will technically maintain his position, but Cole will be secured in securing city leaders such as Smith and Mayor Muriel Bowser Comply with federal government requirements, especially in cooperation with immigration authorities.

There have been dozens of arrests since taking over as Ice and other federal agencies patrol the streets of the capital.

“Attorney General Bondi has just issued a new directive to Mayor Bowser requiring MPD to provide the services necessary for her designated DEA administrator Terry Cole Cole in order to fully comply with federal immigration laws and authority, regardless of MPD otherwise, MPD otherwise MPD may continue all efforts.

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Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks after President Donald Trump announced the federal government’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department on August 11, 2025 at the Wilson Building in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

According to his profile on the DEA website, Cole has a broad law enforcement background in law enforcement, including working at the DEA for more than 20 years before retiring from the federal government in 2020. He then served as Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security from 2023 to 2025.

“I’m glad to see this happening under Terry Cole,” Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin said on “Morning with Maria” on Fox Business Network earlier this week. Northern Virginia Work with Commonwealth and federal leaders.

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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and his wife Suzanne Youngkin held the third day of the 2024 Republican Convention on July 17, 2024 at the Fisevey Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

The Republican governor added: “Terry Cole is now the director and chief executive of the DEA and leads this effort on behalf of the administration, and is the best man in the country to do this. I have confidence in him and I want to thank President Trump for taking this important step.”

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Youngkin pointed out in February that Cole played an important role in resolving illegal drugs in the federal government.

“His leadership over our Free Action Initiative in Virginia has resulted in the capture of tens of thousands of pounds of illegal drugs (including over 70 million fatal fentanyl) and has become the standard for the cooperation of federal, state and local law enforcement,” Youngkin said. “He will take American safety and security as the head of the DEA. It’s a great day to be a drug dealer in the United States, and a bad day.”

Stephanie Samsel of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.