by appointing the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a federal official, as the new emergency chief of the department with full powers of a police chief.

 District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit on Friday, arguing that Trump is exceeding his legal authority. He urged a judge to rule that control of the police department remains with the city and requested an emergency restraining order.

 “The administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call D.C. home. This is the gravest threat to Home Rule that the District has ever faced, and we are fighting to stop it,” Schwalb said.

 Washington Police Chief Pamela Smith also warned that Trump’s directive would undermine public safety by disrupting the department’s command structure. “In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never seen a single government action that would cause a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive,” she said in a court filing.

 Mayor Muriel Bowser echoed the concern, writing on social media that “there is no statute that conveys the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.”

 The White House defended the move. “The Trump Administration has the lawful authority to assert control over the D.C. Police, which is necessary due to the emergency that has arisen in our Nation’s Capital as a result of failed leadership,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

 The lawsuit followed remarks from Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi, who announced Thursday night that DEA chief Terry Cole would assume “powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police.” She added that the Metropolitan Police Department “must receive approval from Commissioner Cole” before issuing any orders. Earlier this week, Trump declared that the federal government would take control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department to address surging crime. (Aljazeera)