Federal Occupation in the Capital: A Prelude to Authoritarian Acceleration

On Monday, August 11, 2025, President Trump invoked Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, deploy 800 National Guard troops, and place the force under the authority of Attorney General Pam Bondi. This is a historic and unprecedented assertion of executive power over the nation’s capital. His justification: a so-called “public safety emergency,” despite the fact that violent crime in D.C. has dropped sharply over the past year and now sits at a thirty-year low.

The data tell a different story than Trump’s rhetoric (what else is new?). Homicides, armed robberies, and assaults are all down.

I am a former DC and NYC resident — I spent the better part of a decade moving back and forth between these two cities to go to school in one and work in the other.

I can tell you that yes, crime exists and city police are rarely as helpful as they probably could be, but these places aren’t anything close to the hellscapes that Fox News has convinced half the nation that they are. I miss both places dearly — and I most certainly would not if all the time that I spent there I was petrified of crime.

The federal occupation stands in sharp contrast to reality on the ground — and to democratic norms of local governance. This is very obviously not about protecting public safety.

It’s about using the power of the state as a political weapon, shifting the Overton Window towards normalizing armed presence patrols on American streets, and creating a distraction from the fact that over 1,000 FBI agents and personnel were diverted from actually fighting crime to work over-nights to redact Donald J. Trump’s name from the Epstein Files.

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We’ve already seen how this kind of authoritarian escalation can be met with effective, disciplined resistance. In Los Angeles, local communities faced the federalization of the California National Guard and even the deployment of Active Duty Marines. Activists, neighbors, and community leaders made the occupation untenable. By sustaining peaceful, organized rallies in support of their friends and neighbors — and by refusing to be provoked into violence — they forced the Trump Administration to withdraw most of those troops. That same discipline and solidarity will be required everywhere this playbook is deployed.

Local leaders have condemned the move in D.C. as a political power grab. Mayor Muriel Bowser called it “unsettling,” while informing her residents that her hands are largely tied because of the unique nature of the district. Legal scholars and civil rights advocates warn this sets a dangerous precedent: normalizing federal control over local police, especially in majority-Black cities.

Calls for D.C. statehood have grown louder in the wake of this action — and we must make this an uncompromising priority for any serious contender for every federal office moving forward.

For those of us who have spent years tracking the rise of authoritarian movements, the message is clear. This isn’t a one-off. Trump is signaling that he will use federal power to target any city that doesn’t fall in line. D.C. is the test case, and this is almost certainly what we can expect to be used as an intimidation and voter suppression tactic during future elections.

So how do we respond?

1. Be deliberate. Don’t take the bait.

Yes, this is escalation. Yes, it’s part of a fascist strategy to normalize the use of militarized force against civilians. And yes, the Overton Window is shifting in real time. But that does not mean you have to react on Trump’s timetable. If you let outrage dictate your next move, you’re playing his game. Step back. Assess. Make decisions based on strategy, not impulse.

2. Don’t act alone.

If protests erupt — and they will — do not go alone, even if you’re joining a crowd of thousands. Bring trusted people you’ve known for years. Divide labor. Share responsibilities. No one person can “save democracy” alone. Build that trust before the moment of crisis.

That’s why Veterans Fighting Fascism created the Antifascist Book Club. Yes, it’s about reading to better understand fascism — but the real power is in the relationships you build meeting in person. That’s how you create the kind of team you can rely on when things get real. You can download the guide at veteransfightingfascism.org.

3. Have an objective.

Before you show up anywhere — whether it’s a protest, a school board meeting, or a city council session — know what you’re trying to achieve and how you plan to do it. Simply being there matters, but showing up with a specific goal and a clear plan makes your action more effective.

Our Street Teams Guide and Community Response Guide at taskforcebutler.org walk you step-by-step through how to gather evidence of misconduct and turn it into accountability — whether the perpetrators are hate groups, rogue police units, or armed troops violating civil rights.

The fight isn’t just in D.C.

What’s happening in Washington today is a preview of what can happen anywhere. Federal occupation isn’t limited to the capital. The same tactics can and will be used against other cities — and against your community — if they think they can get away with it.

Fascism grows locally. That’s where you have the most power to fight it.

Don’t act on impulse. Gather your crew. Have a plan. And when you take action, make it count.

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