US Attorney General Pam Bondi took decisive action to restore law and order in the nation’s capital by naming DEA Administrator Terry Cole as Washington, DC’s “emergency police commissioner,” granting him full authority over the city’s police department. This bold move comes as President Donald Trump federalized DC to quell the rampant violence and unchecked crime spiraling out of control under far-left Democratic policies.
The Associated Press reported:
“Attorney General Pam Bondi has named the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as Washington’s ‘emergency police commissioner,’ saying she is granting him the powers of the police chief amid the federal takeover. Bondi said in a directive issued Thursday evening that DEA boss Terry Cole will assume ‘powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police.’ The Metropolitan Police Department ‘must receive approval from Commissioner Cole’ before issuing any orders, Bondi said.”
This decision underscores the Trump administration’s unwavering commitment to restoring safety in a city overrun by liberal incompetence. Crime in DC, particularly juvenile violence, has skyrocketed thanks to soft-on-crime policies pushed by Democrats. Instead of taking responsibility, DC’s leadership has floundered—exemplified by Police Chief Pamela Smith’s embarrassing moment this week when she appeared utterly confused by a basic question about the chain of command.
I’ve never known of any police chief who doesn’t know what “chain of command” means
Maybe the first piece of cleaning up crime in DC is to reform hiring practices
— Phil Holloway ✈️ (@PhilHollowayEsq) August 12, 2025
Reporter: “Chief Smith, can you clarify the chain of command right now?”
Pamela Smith: “What does that mean?”
The stunning lack of leadership forced Mayor Muriel Bowser to awkwardly intervene, snatching the microphone to cover for her clueless police chief. This is the same administration that has allowed violent crime to surge while demonizing law enforcement and dismantling effective policing strategies.
President Trump’s decision to federalize DC and install a strong, competent leader like Terry Cole is exactly what the city needs. While the liberal media will undoubtedly spin this as “overreach,” the reality is that Democrats have failed miserably to protect citizens. The Trump administration isn’t playing politics—it’s saving lives.