Federal Property, My Ass
What we are seeing in LA these past few days - honestly, I had been preparing myself mentally for it to happen first in DC.
Communities at a breaking point. Protesters in the streets. A President looking for any excuse to call dissent an “insurrection” and federalize the National Guard.
You’ve probably seen the headlines, but here’s what has stood out to me from the descriptions of what’s happening in LA:
Hundreds of people arrested by ICE without judicial warrants.
Families detained in federal buildings, denied access to lawyers and lacking baby formula and hygiene supplies.
Federal agents and LA police in riot gear, as helicopters and drones patrol overhead.
Tear gas, flash-bangs, rubber bullets, shields and batons being used to corral or disperse peaceful protests.
Reports of confusing orders “Leave the area!” “You can’t go there!”
David Huerta, president of SEIU Service Worker union, shoved to the ground and arrested by police while legally observing ICE arrests; detained for more than 72 hours, and upon his release charged with “conspiracy to impede an officer” - a felony charge.
And Dr. Phil—of all people—embedded with ICE and a camera crew, parroting talking points from Trump’s unofficial border czar, Tom Homan. Homan isn’t even a federal official, but he’s still out there threatening to arrest Governor Newsom on camera.
David Dayen of The American Prospect nailed it:
“The correct way to connect the authoritarian presence in LA and the Big Beautiful Bill is that the funding bill, if passed, will give the government the resources to do this in dozens of cities at one. So if you don’t like what’s happening in LA, its coming to your town if the budget bill passes.”
Dire. And true.
Meanwhile, the House somehow found the time to debate not one, not two, but three bills attacking D.C. autonomy:
A bill to repeal our local law allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections—despite the fact that these 50,000 residents contribute over $1.3 billion in local taxes every year.
A bill to take control over police misconduct cases away from D.C. and hand them to the feds.
A bill to revoke D.C.’s status as a sanctuary city—forcing our local agencies, including police, hospitals and schools, to collaborate with ICE.
On Monday morning, a group of us from Free DC visited all 13 offices of the House Rules Committee—nine Republicans and four Democrats. We handed out talking points explaining how these bills undermine local democracy and would make D.C. less safe. Then we packed into the Rules Committee hearing room—it’s a cozy space, with only nine seats for the public. Wearing our Free DC shirts, we filled seven of those seats.
The hearing was... a ride.
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), the chair, opened by praising the President’s use of the National Guard in LA. She is honestly like a cartoon villain grandma determined to take away our civil rights.
Then House Oversight leaders presented the bills: Rep. James Comer (R-KY) in support, followed by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) pushing back hard, defending D.C.'s right to govern ourselves.
When Rep. McGovern (ranking member of Rules, D-MA) was given the floor, he laid out—with clarity and force—why these Republican attacks on D.C. are outrageous.
The Democrats were energized by our presence. They made strong arguments and spoke with urgency. The Republicans, on the other hand, stuck to MAGA talking points—claiming crime in D.C. is out of control (it’s not—crime is at a 30-year low) and painting our Council as dangerously “woke.”
An interesting plot twist: Comer tried to drive a wedge between the Mayor and Council, claiming the Mayor didn’t actually put her signature to our Sanctuary City law (not sure if that’s true, but worth checking) and mentioning several times “being in touch” and “working closely” with our Mayor. We are definitely being sold out.
Other Highlights:
Foxx and Comer referring to D.C. as “federal property.” (!!!)
McGovern fires back—score! “Using the word property - that’s like a throwback to an era in this country that we should all look at with great shame.”
Rep Scanlon (D-PA) making a last-ditch motion to amend the bills with the DC Local Funds Act, to give us our billion $$ back.
McGovern closing with an acknowledgment of our presence, and an apology for what Congress is doing to the District.
The hearing ended after almost 2 hours, with the Committee voting to send all 3 bills to the House floor. And yet our Free DC group was buzzing. We definitely gave the Democrats some fuel to keep fighting!
As we stepped into the hallway, we spotted committee member Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN) waiting for the elevator. Earlier I had looked her up when I visited her office—so I called out:
“Rep. Houchin! My mom’s a Hoosier. I’ve got family all over Indiana. I’m so disappointed you voted to undermine our local autonomy. How would you feel if the feds came in and took a billion dollars away from Bloomington? It’s not right. What you did today—it’s not right.”
She tersely replied “It’s in the Constitution,” and the elevator doors closed.
Sigh.
Two of the bills went to a vote on the floor today—and we lost those, too. Worse, more than 50 Democrats joined Republicans in taking away our autonomy. Our status as a Sanctuary City will be voted on tomorrow.
Today Free DC turned back to the local front—eleven of us testifying before the D.C. Council about our concerns that local police have three times followed illegal federal orders since January:
Clearing homeless encampments based on an Executive Order, without giving required notice.
Reinstating officers who were criminally convicted of murdering a DC citizen—after presidential pardons.
Following illegal orders to shutter the U.S. Institute of Peace.
I testified about the USIP incident, urging the Council to use what power it has to take a stand against authoritarianism (full testimony below).
Our Councilmember who chairs public safety—who usually isn’t in our corner—took the opportunity to ask how Free DC’s advocacy was going in Congress, what were we hearing from Members? It gave me the chance to describe what we’d witnessed at the House Rules Committee, and repeat the ugly things Republicans said about our city. I hope it gave a sense of urgency to my call that the Council “build structures of non-compliance now.”
Again, DC showed up. Again, it mattered.
And that felt good.
Just as tanks are being shipped into our city— costing DC taxpayers $16 million —not for our safety, but for an imperial spectacle to remind us who holds the power. It’s surreal.
Testimony to the DC Council Committee on the Metropolicant Police
Good afternoon Councilmember Pinto. My name is Laurel MacLaren, I live in Ward 4, and I appreciate being able to testify today.
In February, I lost my job in international development due to DOGE cuts at USAID. Having been personally impacted by illegal federal overreach, you can understand why I have grave concerns about the Metropolitan Police Department’s compliance with an illegal directive to forcefully and unlawfully close the U.S. Institute of Peace.
On March 17, MPD officers entered USIP’s offices and forced staff to vacate, acting on a directive from Kenneth Jackson, who claimed—without lawful basis—to be Acting President of USIP. While backed by paperwork from the OAG for DC, the directive lacked any legitimate legal standing. Since then, a U.S. District Judge has ruled the closure of USIP unconstitutional and unlawful.
Yet upon presentation of Jackson’s directive, it was without further question that our police force carried out what amounted to a federal seizure of an independent, Congressionally-authorized institution.
This misuse of MPD authority and resources raises an alarm, and it is not the only incident of our police force complying with Federal officials who do not respect our city or represent our values.
This was more than a simple misstep. It was compliance with authoritarian overreach.
And it is part of a pattern—federal authorities testing the limits of what they can get away with in DC, exploiting our lack of statehood, and using our police force as a tool to consolidate control. Every time MPD complies without question, it will weaken public trust, strengthen federal impunity, and accelerate the erosion of DC’s autonomy.
The Council has authorities, and you must act. I urge you to:
Hold public oversight hearings to demand a full accounting from MPD leadership. Who authorized MPD’s involvement in this unlawful action, and on what basis?
Amend DC laws to create ironclad safeguards that prevent MPD from responding to vague or unauthorized Federal directives—especially from politically-motivated actors like Acting OAG Jean Pirro.
Reallocate or reduce MPD’s budget—as you have in past years—to ensure that DC taxpayer dollars cannot be weaponized by federal actors bent on undermining our democracy.
I am sure the Council agrees that our police department must not become a pawn in power grabs emanating from the White House. We must build structures of non-compliance to authoritarianism now—because the next unconstitutional order may come with a more dangerous aim. Just take a look at what’s happening in LA right now.
As much as I am proud of the US Institute of Peace - this is not just about one building, or one agency. The Council must use its power to safeguard the autonomy of our city, and to uphold the principle that no one—no President, no interim U.S. Attorney, no police commander—is above the rule of law.
Thank you.
Thank you, Laurel, as ever.
Thank you Laurel, for keeping us awake and aware and watching.