Washington, D.C.’s Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, has filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s recent decision to appoint Terry Cole, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, as the “emergency police commissioner” of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department. Schwalb argued that the move exceeds the President’s powers under the D.C. Home Rule Act and could create confusion in the department’s leadership. He is seeking a temporary restraining order to maintain local control.
The lawsuit marks a sharp escalation in tensions between city officials and the federal government. Schwalb described the takeover as a “brazenly unlawful” attempt to undermine Washington’s self-governance. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the action “unsettling and unprecedented,” stressing that no legal framework exists for a federal official to override the mayor’s authority over the police.
Police Chief Pamela Smith also rejected the appointment, stating that she reports only to the mayor and will continue to follow the city’s established chain of command.
During an initial court hearing, Judge Ana Reyes questioned the legality of the federal intervention. She noted that while the President may request assistance from the D.C. police in emergencies, it is doubtful that he has the authority to replace or bypass local leadership.
The federal administration has defended its actions as a necessary response to what it described as a public safety emergency, citing provisions in the Home Rule Act that allow temporary federal control of the D.C. police under certain conditions. City officials, however, argue that the justification is weak, pointing out that crime rates in the capital are currently at historic lows.
