The federal surge encompassed two overlapping developments: First, the August 2025 deployment of the National Guard, the federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and intensified federal immigration and law-enforcement activity in the city.  Second, it coincided with a broader federal policy shock as a result of  large-scale federal workforce layoffs, a 43-day government shutdown, and continued Congressional interference in local District  affairs.

Federal interference in District governance is not new. Throughout the 50 years since the District of Columbia gained limited Home Rule, the federal government has intervened in the laws, policies, and practices developed by local elected leaders and their appointees. But the scale, pace, and impact of actions initiated by the federal government on the District of Columbia have intensified.

To help residents and policymakers better understand the impact of the federal surge on DC residents and Home Rule, the DC Justice Lab has compiled a series of analyses examining its effects on the lives of District residents.