In a significant push to impose stricter crime policies, the GOP-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has advanced a series of bills that could drastically reduce the autonomy of Washington D.C. The measures, which were met with strong opposition from Democrats, are aimed at tightening federal control over the district, particularly in its law enforcement operations.

The committee’s session, which extended over ten hours, coincided with the expiration of President Donald Trump’s 30-day emergency order that placed the D.C. police department under federal control. “This is an assault on the self-determination of the residents of Washington, D.C., and they deserve better than this,” voiced Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), highlighting the frustrations of a district fraught with legislative interference despite lacking full congressional representation.

Among the proposed legislation, notable bills include expanding Congress’s veto power over city laws, replacing the elected attorney general with a presidential appointee, and overturning decisions made by the D.C. Council. In a bid to address youth crime, one bill proposes redefining “youth” to under 18 years old, with provisions to try those aged 14 and older as adults for certain crimes. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) defended these moves by pointing to the crime she claims is rampant in the capital, stating, “You are living in a city filled with crime. And we have witnessed it as members of Congress.”

Despite the committee’s approval, the bills face a challenging path forward, as any passage in the House is likely to stall in the Senate where Democratic support is necessary to overcome a filibuster. Nonetheless, the ongoing legislative efforts underscore a broader Republican strategy to pilot tough-on-crime policies in D.C. that could later be expanded to other Democrat-run cities.

Next week, the tension over D.C.’s self-governance is expected to escalate when Mayor Muriel Bowser, Council Chair Phil Mendelson, and Attorney General Brian Schwalb testify before the Oversight committee. Committee ranking member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) has accused Republicans of a “blatant power grab,” suggesting that if President Trump is so focused on governing D.C., “he should step down as president and run for mayor.”

Central to the debate is the Republican belief that D.C.’s current officials are too lenient on crime, despite the city reporting a 30-year low in violent offenses last year. This narrative has been used by Trump to justify his takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and the indefinite deployment of the National Guard in the city.

As Republicans eye national applications of these policies, they are also targeting Democratic jurisdictions’ bail reforms, advocating for mandatory cash bail and detention for certain offenses. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Summer Lee warned, “What you all are attempting to do in D.C. right now is just a forecast for what they actually want for the entire country.”

As the debate continues, the implications of these legislative efforts could redefine the landscape of criminal justice and governance not just in Washington D.C., but across the nation.