Freedom of Information Act Requests Filed with the District of Columbia, Federal Agencies 

Washington, D.C. – As the Trump-Vance administration continues its dangerous federalization and deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., Democracy Forward – one of the nation’s leading pro-democracy legal organizations – is taking action to uncover details of the President’s political power grab. President Trump has announced that he is seizing control, for 30 days, of the Metropolitan Police Department, D.C.’s local law enforcement agency, and deploying 800 National Guard troops to the streets and neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.. 

In response to the President’s announcement, Democracy Forward today submitted requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), seeking information from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and National Guard Bureau, as well as the District of Columbia’s Executive Office of the Mayor, Metropolitan Police Department, and Office of the Senior Advisor about any and all directives, instructions or guidance concerning District of Columbia home rule and all federalization authorities.

“This isn’t just a D.C. problem – the tools and tactics being utilized under President Trump’s power grab should concern every community across the country,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Meeting this moment will require a sustained, strategic, and informed response. The information we are seeking will help ensure that all Americans are aware of how this concerning step toward authoritarianism has been executed. Democracy Forward will continue working with our partners to protect the people of the District of Columbia and across the nation.”

Democracy Forward and its partners, including the more than 550 organizations participating in the Democracy 2025 coalition, are considering all legal options regarding the President’s dangerous overreach. 

The President’s incursion into Washington, D.C. comes as the White House has been desperate to redirect the media and public’s attention away from the administration’s continued mishandling of processes related to the handling of the Epstein Files. On Friday, Democracy Forward sued the Trump-Vance administration in the first lawsuit to be filed over the administration’s handling of these records, seeking access to documents that include senior administration officials’ communications regarding Epstein documents from DOJ and the FBI.

To read the FOIA requests submitted today, please click here (D.C. requests) and here (federal requests). 

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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.