Can President Donald Trump legally send National Guard troops into Washington and seize control of the district’s police force? The short answers are yes and yes.
Trump has authority over the DC National Guard. It’s the sole guard unit that reports only to the president.
Section 740 of Washington’s Home Rule Act gives presidents the authority to take control of the city’s police department for up to 30 days during emergencies. Congressional approval is not needed.
Trump has used the National Guard before, and so have other presidents. Deployments have been used to enforce civil rights, quell urban violence, and, once, even to fill in for striking postal workers.
Six presidents – four Republicans and two Democrats – have activated the National Guard 11 times since 1957. Here's a breakdown of when presidential orders were made, the number of troops deployed, and whether the presidents had approval from the local governors or mayors:
