Former President Donald Trump has pledged to take control of Washington D.C. if he regains the presidency. The threat has D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on high alert as Trump's extensive powers over the nonstate district could be weaponized to alter local laws, including those on abortion, cannabis, traffic safety, police, and even reinstating the Control Board, effectively sidelining local governance.

Jack Evans, a former D.C. council member, who spoke with Channel 4 in D.C., warned that such a move would be catastrophic and severely undermine local democracy. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who also spoke with Channel 4, echoed the concerns, highlighting the potential for Trump to federalize the police department and reshape D.C. policies.

Amid the threats, Mayor Bowser is monitoring Project 2025, seen as a roadmap for a second Trump term, to prepare for any actions. While the implications are vast, Bowser is exploring options to safeguard the city's autonomy, but the district's lack of statehood limits her leverage.

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