Congressman Ivey Provides Statement on Administration’s Attempt to Take Over D.C. Metropolitan Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2025
Contact: Chloe Scott, Digital Director
Email:Chloe.Scott1@mailhouse.gov
Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04) provided the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s attempt to take over the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
WASHINGTON, D.C.– I fully support District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s lawsuit to block the Trump administration's illegal attempt to take over the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This unprecedented action taken by President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi clearly violates the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which does not authorize a takeover of the police department where no emergency exists. Let’s be clear: There is no crime emergency in Washington that warrants these extreme actions. Rather, violent crime has been decreasing for the past two years. As such, the federal court should grant D.C.'s motion to block the Trump administration from yet another violation of federal law.
As a former state and federal prosecutor, I take efforts to reduce violent crime with the utmost seriousness. If the Trump administration wants to get serious about reducing violent crime throughout our nation, then a great place to start would be tackling the steady flow of illegal guns flooding our communities, including dangerous assault weapons. One of the Trump administration's first steps upon assuming office was to eliminate the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which had helped lead to historic drops in violent crimes in American cities including Baltimore and Boston. Instead, what has occurred this week in Washington is merely a distraction by Trump to divert attention away from the Epstein Files fiasco that has President Trump and Attorney General Bondi running for cover.
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