Trump again threatens DC’s home rule: What to know

Published August 6, 2025 10:00am ET



President Donald Trump repeated his threat to take over the District of Columbia government, which operates independently under home rule.

Trump again threatened a federal takeover of Washington after a former Department of Government Efficiency worker was assaulted by teenagers in Dupont Circle. He called for the district to change the law to allow for prosecuting minors as adults and said that if it does not “get its act together,” his administration will take federal control of it.

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