This joint resolution terminates the President's declared crime emergency in the District of Columbia, arguing against using local police for federal tasks amid declining crime rates and local funding restrictions.
Chris Van Hollen
Senator
MD
This joint resolution terminates the President's declared crime emergency in the District of Columbia from August 2025. Congress asserts that the emergency is unwarranted given declining crime rates and argues against diverting local Metropolitan Police Department resources for federal tasks. The resolution effectively ends the special conditions established by the Executive Order.
Congress Moves to End D.C. Crime Emergency, Freeing Up $1 Billion in Local Funds
This joint resolution is Congress stepping in to officially cancel the crime emergency declaration the President slapped on the District of Columbia back in August 2025. In plain terms, Congress is saying, “Thanks, but no thanks, we don’t need the federal government taking over D.C.’s local police resources.” The resolution specifically terminates the Executive Order that created the emergency, citing the authority granted by section 740(b) of the D.C. Home Rule Act. Essentially, this is a power move to restore local control over the city’s public safety operations.
The Numbers Don't Lie: Why the Emergency is Over
Congress is challenging the very premise of the emergency, pointing out that violent crime in D.C. has actually been dropping for the last two years and is currently at its lowest point in three decades. For the folks living and working in D.C., this means the federal justification for pulling Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers away from local beats to handle federal tasks is being dismantled. If you’re a local business owner or a parent relying on local patrols, this resolution aims to keep those officers focused on community safety rather than federal assignments.
Reclaiming the Local Budget
Perhaps the biggest real-world impact centers on the money. The resolution highlights that the Federal Government has been withholding $1,000,000,000 of D.C.’s own local tax money—funds specifically earmarked for essential local services like public safety (police, fire, and emergency responders) and schools. By terminating the emergency and asserting local authority, Congress is making a strong push to get that billion dollars back into the hands of the D.C. government. For teachers, first responders, and anyone paying D.C. taxes, this means potentially unlocking critical funding that was frozen due to the federal intervention.
What This Means for Local Cops and Federal Agencies
For the MPD, this resolution means their deployment decisions should revert back to local command, rather than being dictated by federal needs under the emergency order. This is a win for local autonomy. On the flip side, federal agencies that were relying on the MPD for support or personnel under the emergency declaration will now need to find alternative arrangements or personnel. While the resolution is beneficial for D.C. residents by restoring local control and potentially freeing up vital funds, it does set up a clear administrative conflict between Congress and the Executive Branch over who gets to define and manage a local 'crime emergency,' even if the data suggests the emergency is unwarranted.