The Democratic mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, has authority over the city's Metropolitan Police Department. But a federal law from 1973 known as the Home Rule Act allows the president to take control of the MPD for 30 days during an emergency.

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would ask Congress for an extension of the federalization of D.C.'s police. The move is unlikely to pass as it would require Democratic support. NATIONAL GUARD: Trump's comments come after National Guard troops began deploying in Washington,

Federal agents will patrol the streets 24/7 in Washington, White House says Officials said the number of National Guard troops will ramp up and federal officers will be out around the clock after the president made the unprecedented announcement that his administration would take over the police department for at least a month.

After President Donald Trump's announcement that his administration would take over Washington’s police department for at least a month, hundreds of members of the National Guard began to arrive in the capital.