The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday sharply criticized members of the Washington, D.C., City Council for their recent letters asking governors to withdraw National Guard troops from the capital. In a forceful response, a senior Justice Department official said the council lacks the power to instruct governors to pull guardsmen and accused the council members of ignoring improvements in the city’s public safety picture.
Federal official calls D.C. action "impotent theatrics"
Colin McDonald, an assistant attorney general, delivered the department’s criticism in a letter to the council. McDonald noted that councilors had written to governors in 10 states asking that the guardsmen be recalled early, including a letter obtained by 7News DC that asked Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to recall her troops after the 250th anniversary festivities concluded.
"Let me be clear, your council has no power to demand that governors remove their brave men and women from serving in uniform in our nation’s capital," McDonald wrote, calling the council’s move "impotent theatrics not worth the paper it’s written on."
In his letter, McDonald also urged councilors to focus on revising District law to strengthen penalties and ensure the public is protected, and offered the Justice Department’s assistance.
Officials point to enforcement numbers and crime trends
The Justice Department’s letter came the same day that FBI Director Kash Patel posted enforcement statistics on social media highlighting arrests and seizures tied to the federal security initiative in Washington. Patel wrote that federal action has yielded "6,121 arrests, nearly 2,000 drug seizures, 1,300+ illegal firearms seized, 237 search warrants executed, $252,000+ in cash recovered, HOMICIDES DOWN 44 percent."
| Metric | Figure (as cited by FBI Director) |
|---|---|
| Arrests | 6,121 |
| Drug seizures | Nearly 2,000 |
| Illegal firearms seized | 1,300+ |
| Search warrants executed | 237 |
| Cash recovered | $252,000+ |
| Homicides change | Down 44% |
McDonald’s letter went further, arguing that crime in the city had likely been undercounted before the federal initiative and asserting that the murder rate fell after National Guard forces were deployed in August 2025. He tied the falling figures to a wider effort that he described as a "complete rehabilitation and beautification of the city’s history, monuments and public spaces, and a total revitalization of the capital’s commercial and downtown regions."
Council letters, governors and authority
Members of the D.C. Council sent outreach to governors in 10 states requesting the governors call back troops early. The move highlights a clash over control and responsibility: governors command their state National Guard units, while the District government has limited authority over federal and state deployments in the capital.
- Councilors asked governors for the early withdrawal of their states’ National Guard contingents.
- The Justice Department asserts the council does not have the authority to compel governors to act.
- Federal officials have cited enforcement statistics and declines in homicides since the Guard arrived.
The Hill and other outlets obtained at least one of those letters, sent to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which requested the recall of the Michigan Guard contingent after the city’s 250th anniversary events concluded.
What city leaders might do next
McDonald urged councilors to withdraw their letters and to spend remaining time in public service focusing on local law changes to make sure criminals are punished and the public protected. He said his office was available to assist.
The Hill reported the D.C. City Council had not yet responded to the Justice Department letter as of Wednesday. The exchange underscores an ongoing debate in Washington about how to balance visible federal security assets with local policymaking and oversight, particularly during a period of major events and increased federal activity in the city.
For residents and visitors, the dispute raises practical questions about the presence of uniformed National Guard personnel on city streets and the role those forces play alongside federal law enforcement and local agencies. Federal officials point to large numbers of arrests, seizures and a decline in homicides as evidence that the initiative has produced measurable safety benefits. Council members have signaled concerns about the continued presence of out-of-state troops in the capital.
As the debate continues, Washington remains the focal point of both ceremonial events and intensive security operations. The Justice Department’s public pushback frames the disagreement as not just political theater but a matter of legal authority and public safety strategy.
