CNN 5 Things One Thing: What Trump’s DC Takeover is Really About
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Aug 17, 2025 Trevor Gardner, Vice Dean of Research at Washington University in St. Louis, discusses the implications of President Trump's controversial takeover of DC law enforcement. He examines whether this move will genuinely enhance safety or if it's driven by ulterior motives. Gardner dives into the legal authority behind such actions, the fluctuating crime statistics in DC, and the challenges of holding federal agents accountable. He also addresses the racial implications of Trump's urban crime policies, highlighting the divide between federal and local authorities.
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14th Street Checkpoint Protest
- Residents on 14th Street said they'd never seen a federal-D.C. checkpoint like the one that drew protests.
- Protesters chanted and criticized masked agents, signaling local alarm at the federal presence.
D.C.'s Unique Federal Vulnerability
- The Home Rule Act lets the president take control of D.C. police for federal purposes for 30 days.
- Trevor Gardner notes this makes D.C. uniquely vulnerable to federal takeover compared with other cities.
Federal Agents vs. Local Police Limits
- The president can deploy FBI or federal agents nationwide but cannot constitutionally seize state or municipal police elsewhere.
- Gardner explains D.C.'s special status allows Trump to showcase federal power in an urban setting.