Muriel Bowser says president’s move to federalize city police force demonstrates why the District of Columbia needs statehood to secure its independence

President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department in the District of Columbia has Democrats renewing calls for D.C. statehood, while Republicans cite the takeover as grounds to revoke Washington’s home rule.

Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser called for statehood for the District of Columbia Monday after President Donald Trump announced measures to address crime in the nation’s capital. Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard to combat crime in the District of Columbia days after Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer Edward Coristine,