Terminating the emergency determined by the President on August 11, 2025, in the Executive Order titled Declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia.
Summary
This joint resolution aims to terminate the state of emergency declared by the President in the District of Columbia on August 11, 2025, via executive order, citing declining crime rates and the withholding of locally raised revenues. The resolution argues that the conditions necessitating the emergency declaration no longer exist. It is introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
The resolution is based on the premise that the federal government has overstepped its bounds in the District of Columbia. It also suggests that the city's own resources are being improperly withheld.
If passed, this resolution would end the President's declared emergency and potentially restore control over public safety resources to the District of Columbia.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the resolution would terminate the President's declared emergency in the District of Columbia. This would likely return control of the Metropolitan Police Department to local authorities for regular policing duties.
Furthermore, it could lead to the release of the $1 billion in locally raised revenues that the federal government had allegedly prevented the District of Columbia from spending. This money could then be used for public safety and other essential services.
The resolution's passage could also set a precedent for limiting the President's power to declare emergencies in similar situations in the future.
Potential Benefits
- Restores local control over law enforcement in the District of Columbia.
- Frees up $1 billion in locally raised revenues for public safety and other essential services.
- Reinforces the principle of local governance and autonomy.
- Potentially reduces federal overreach in local affairs.
- Could improve the relationship between the federal government and the District of Columbia.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential disruption to law enforcement operations during the transition period.
- Possible increase in crime if the federal resources were genuinely needed.
- Risk of undermining the President's authority to respond to genuine emergencies.
- Could create a political conflict between the legislative and executive branches.
- Potential for unintended consequences if the underlying issues are not fully addressed.
Constitutional Alignment
The resolution invokes Section 740(b) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which grants Congress the authority to terminate an emergency declared by the President in the District of Columbia. This aligns with Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over the District of Columbia.
The resolution also touches upon the balance of power between the federal government and local governments, a recurring theme in constitutional law. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people, which could be relevant here if the federal government's actions are seen as infringing upon the District's right to self-governance.
However, the President's power to declare emergencies is not explicitly defined in the Constitution, leading to potential debates about the scope of executive authority.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).