The DC Police Union fired back at Ward 6 Councilman Charles Allen after he blasted President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department and deploy the National Guard in the district.
On Monday, Trump announced that hundreds of National Guard troops would be sent to Washington, D.C., and the MPD would be placed under federal authority, citing “out of control” crime in the district.
In a Monday five-part post on X, Allen called the move “extreme, outrageous, and dangerous,” warning that the National Guard is trained for warfare, not community policing. He accused Trump of trying to stage “compelling TV” to distract from his own scandals.
“The President taking over local control of MPD & putting the US military onto the streets of DC under the guise of public safety is wrong. It’s an extreme, outrageous, and dangerous move for our city and the safety of all our residents,” Allen said.
Very brave of you to post this since it is entirely your fault. https://t.co/ovjgO9pxhz
— DC Police Union (@DCPoliceUnion) August 11, 2025
The DC Police Union responded to Allen sharply on social media, saying, “Very brave of you to post this since it is entirely your fault.”
The union’s jab reflected the tension between Allen and police leaders, which stems from his record as chairman of the Council of the District of Columbia’s Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. Allen has faced criticism for supporting criminal code reforms, backing early release measures, and voting to reduce MPD funding, policies opponents have said fueled a spike in certain crimes and emboldened offenders.
Those frustrations boiled over last year into a recall effort spearheaded by Capitol Hill residents Jennifer Squires and April Brown. Organizers accused Allen of weakening public safety and sought to remove him from office. Despite raising more than $56,000 and mounting an extensive signature drive, the campaign fell short by roughly 900 signatures of the 10% threshold needed to force a special election. The recall failed, and Allen emerged politically intact.
A series of high-profile violent crimes in recent years has fueled public anger and national headlines:
The political clash between Allen and the union comes as parts of the district have struggled with high-profile crimes in recent weeks, including youth-involved violence.
Over the weekend, police reimposed an expanded juvenile curfew zone in Navy Yard after a teenage boy allegedly fired a stolen gun at a group of children, just weeks after a string of youth takeovers in the same neighborhood.
Elsewhere, a group of 20 to 30 teenagers ransacked and vandalized a Northeast convenience store late Friday night, and two 15-year-olds were arrested in connection with assaulting a former Department of Government Efficiency employee during an attempted carjacking in Logan Circle.
Supporters of Trump’s intervention have argued these incidents show a pattern of lawlessness and failed local leadership. Critics, including Allen, have countered that federalizing the police risks escalating tensions, undermining local control, and placing untrained military personnel in policing roles.
TRUMP ANNOUNCES FEDERAL TAKEOVER OF DC POLICE TO FIGHT CRIME: WHAT TO KNOW
“Today’s announcement will put untrained and unaccountable members of the military in an untenable position in our communities. It’s unnecessary, unwarranted, & a dangerous escalation of power in the Nation’s Capital simply because he can,” Allen said on X.
With violent crime statistics and public perception in sharp contrast, the debate over safety, accountability, and control of the district is as heated as ever — and Allen remains at the center of the political crossfire.
