The statute does not require evidence or congressional approval — only a presidential declaration of emergency.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is putting Washington, D.C. police "under direct federal control" -- invoking Section 740 of D.C.'s Home Rule Act, which deals with control of the city's police force.

Trump mentioned New York, Baltimore, and Oakland as other cities where he wants to put the police under federal control. “This will go further," he said.