1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

The deployment of National Guard troops and federal takeover of the D.C. police force is an extraordinary overreach of executive power. While addressing public safety is a valid concern, the facts do not support the president's dystopian portrayal of the nation's capital as a lawless wasteland overrun by crime and violence. According to official statistics, violent crime in Washington, D.C. is actually at a 30-year low after a significant drop from 2023 to 2024. The president's actions appear to be a politically motivated attempt to assert control rather than a response grounded in reality. This federal intervention undermines the autonomy of Washington, D.C. despite it having an elected local government. Even the mayor has stated the actions are "unprecedented" and "unsettling," acknowledging the city's limited ability to counter this move under current law. Legal experts have raised doubts about the constitutionality of using federal forces to supplant local law enforcement in an American city that is not facing an extraordinary crisis warranting such a response. I urge you to stand against this unwarranted militarization and power grab by the executive branch. Upholding democratic norms and civilian authority over local policing should be prioritized over manufacturing a justification to deploy troops. Real solutions lie in supporting community-based initiatives and addressing root causes of crime, not resorting to martial law-style tactics that erode civil liberties. I ask that you take action to protect Washington, D.C.'s self-governance and prevent this overreach from setting a precedent that endangers all American cities.