Washington, D.C., just got a law-and-order wake-up call.
On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a bold order to dismantle sanctuary city policies and shake up the Metropolitan Police Department, Fox News reported.
It’s a move that signals the Trump administration’s no-nonsense approach to crime in the nation’s capital.
Bondi’s two-page directive, titled “Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia,” rescinds policies limiting police cooperation with federal immigration authorities and appoints DEA Administrator Terry Cole as the emergency police commissioner.
This order follows President Trump’s executive action on Monday, declaring a crime emergency in D.C. and authorizing a federal takeover of the city’s police force. The administration aims to curb violent crime and restore public safety for residents, commuters, and tourists.
President Trump’s executive order set the stage for a dramatic shift. Issued on Monday, it declared a crime emergency, paving the way for federal law enforcement and the National Guard to flood D.C.’s streets. The visible presence of these forces underscores the administration’s commitment to cracking down on crime.
Bondi’s order didn’t just tweak policy—it upended the chain of command. By appointing Terry Cole as emergency police commissioner, she stripped authority from Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith. Cole now holds the power to issue orders and directives, leaving existing leadership needing his approval to act.
Cole’s new role is no small matter. He can issue general orders, executive orders, and written directives affecting every member of the Metropolitan Police Department. This centralization of power aims to streamline operations and align local police with federal priorities.
Metro Police Chief Pamela Smith’s influence took a hit. Her executive order, issued Thursday, limited how officers could engage with immigration authorities, but Bondi rescinded it within hours. Smith’s now-sidelined directive was a textbook example of sanctuary city thinking, prioritizing local control over federal cooperation.
Bondi’s order targeted three specific Metro Police directives. A June 2024 general order restricted inquiries into immigration status, while an October 2023 order barred arrests based solely on federal immigration warrants. Both were scrapped, signaling a rejection of policies that shielded unauthorized migrants from federal enforcement.
Smith’s Thursday order was particularly revealing. “Members shall not arrest individuals based solely on federal immigration warrants or detainers as long as there is no additional criminal warrant or underlying offense,” it stated. Bondi’s swift reversal suggests such limits are out of step with the administration’s goals.
The rescinded order allowed officers to share information about non-custody individuals and assist with transportation for immigration agencies. Yet it prohibited using databases to check immigration status—a restriction Bondi found untenable. Her response: a clean slate for federal-local collaboration.
The administration’s tough stance is already bearing fruit. On Wednesday night, federal agencies and local police arrested 45 people, 29 of whom were unauthorized migrants. This operation highlights the crackdown’s focus on addressing crime linked to illegal immigration.
Bondi’s directive is unapologetic about its priorities. “To the extent that provisions in this order conflict with any existing MPD directives, those directives are hereby rescinded,” she wrote. It’s a polite but firm middle finger to progressive policies that prioritize ideology over safety.
Her order also emphasizes public safety for all. “Residents of the District of Columbia, the thousands of Americans who commute into the District for work every day, and the millions of tourists from all over the world who visit our nation's capital have a right to feel safe,” Bondi declared.
It’s hard to argue with that—unless you think crime is just part of city life.
