Researchers polled residents a few days after Trump invoked Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to federalize MPD and deploy the National Guard. Though it functions as the nation’s capital, its residents lack full autonomy over local governance, including policing. Federal oversight of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), cemented through congressional authority, has long shaped safety, budgets and community trust. The federal takeover of policing in D.C. underscores the city’s broader fight for autonomy and statehood. While violent crime remains a pressing issue, residents argue that safety cannot be dictated from Capitol Hill or the White House.