Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser Issues Executive Order on Federal Law Enforcement Cooperation

On Tuesday, Mayor Bowser announced an executive order aimed at enhancing collaboration between federal law enforcement and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) indefinitely.

A press release from Bowser’s office details how this order continues the efforts of the Center for Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations (SBEOC) in managing the city’s response to the task force initiated by President Trump.

Earlier in August, Bowser indicated that Trump had invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rules Act, placing MPD under direct federal control, while also revitalizing the National Guard.

The SBEOC’s role includes managing the district’s responses, coordinating communications, and ensuring collaboration with federal law enforcement as much as district laws allow, as noted in the press release.

The SBEOC emphasizes the importance of maintaining community trust by adhering to established policing practices. This includes measures like avoiding masks and clearly identifying agencies during public interactions. Future plans involve strengthening and coordinating federal law enforcement efforts in cooperation with various agencies, including the FBI, Capitol Police, and others.

In her statement, Bowser mentioned issuing Mayor’s Order 2025-090 to establish a path forward beyond the presidential emergency. Reports suggest that the federalization initiated by Trump will last for a duration of 30 days and is set to expire soon.

This announcement may help mitigate concerns about what happens once that deadline arrives, ensuring ongoing collaboration between local and federal authorities. Interestingly, following the transition to federal control, there was a reported 22% decrease in violent crime in the capital.

Bowser has noted a positive evaluation of the “surge in executives” achieved by the MPD.