The Trump administration on Friday reversed its earlier decision and agreed to keep Washington, D.C., Police Chief Pamela Smith in her role, while Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a new directive requiring the city’s police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement despite local laws.
Bondi’s order followed a lawsuit filed earlier in the day by D.C. officials seeking to block President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department. The night before, the administration had named a federal official as emergency head of the department, effectively placing it under federal control.
The new directive signaled a partial retreat after a judge questioned the legality of Bondi’s earlier move. However, Bondi emphasized the administration would continue pressing D.C. leaders to assist federal authorities in pursuing immigrants in the country illegally, despite existing sanctuary policies.
In a Friday evening post on social media, Bondi criticized D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb for opposing the administration’s public safety efforts but noted a commitment to working with Mayor Muriel Bowser to protect residents, workers, and visitors.
Bowser’s office said late Friday it was still reviewing the Justice Department’s updated order. Earlier in the day, Bowser said residents were “worried and concerned” as federal officers surged into the city.
Chief Smith warned in a court filing that Trump’s earlier move to sideline her would jeopardize law and order by disrupting the command structure. “In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never seen a single government action that would cause a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive,” she wrote.
The dispute reflects rising tensions in the largely Democratic city as the Republican administration asserts more control over its police. While the week began with a gradual increase in federal officers and National Guard troops, by Friday the conflict over immigration policy, policing, and home rule had intensified.
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, overseeing the case, suggested the law likely does not give the president authority to fully take over city police, though it may provide more power than local officials prefer. “The way I read the statute, the president can ask, the mayor must provide, but the president can’t control,” she said. Reyes encouraged both sides to reach a compromise, saying she would temporarily block the appointment of a new chief if they could not agree.
Trump administration attorney Yaakov Roth said the decision to sideline Smith followed an immigration order that limited assistance to federal authorities. He argued the president has broad authority to determine the level of help D.C. police must provide.
The takeover marks one of the most significant assertions of federal authority over a local government in recent history. While D.C. has faced crime and homelessness challenges, its homicide rate is lower than several other major U.S. cities. The Home Rule Act of 1973 allows the president some control over the city’s police for 30 days without congressional approval. Trump is the first president to use that provision.
Bondi’s Thursday directive to install Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole as police chief came hours after Smith instructed officers to share information with immigration agencies about individuals not in custody. The Justice Department objected, saying her guidance allowed sanctuary policies to continue.
Immigrant advocates worked to advise residents on the changes. Anusce Sanai of Ayuda said they must now be cautious in advising clients. Amy Fischer of Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid reported seeing a “really significant change” since the takeover, with ICE and federal officers conducting roving patrols. A hotline for reporting ICE activity has been flooded with calls. ICE said on X that its teams arrested “several” people in the city Friday, sharing video of two officers handcuffing an individual.
Residents have seen a heightened federal presence, with National Guard troops near landmarks and Humvees outside Union Station. Volunteers assisted homeless individuals in leaving encampments, often without clear destinations.
According to a White House official, 20 federal law enforcement teams with more than 1,750 personnel operated across the city Thursday night, making 33 arrests, including 15 migrants without permanent legal status. Others were wanted for crimes such as murder, rape, and driving under the influence.
As court proceedings continued Friday, more than 100 protesters gathered outside police headquarters, chanting “Protect home rule!” and holding signs reading “Resist!”
