President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to declare a national emergency to maintain federal control over Washington, DC’s police force, escalating a legal battle with the city over his administration’s unprecedented takeover of local law enforcement.

On August 11, Trump asserted federal control over the DC Metropolitan Police Department by invoking Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act , which allows presidential control of local police during “special conditions of an emergency nature.” Notably, the president’s authority under Section 740 is limited to 30 days in the absence of a joint Congressional resolution permitting an extension.

On August 15, DC filed a federal lawsuit challenging Trump’s emergency order, arguing the Trump administration exceeded its legal authority an

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