House and Senate Democrats on Friday introduced legislation that would end the Trump administration’s control of Washington’s police department, part of an escalating effort to fight President Trump’s takeover of the nation’s capital.

But during his speech announcing the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees on Wednesday, Trump repeatedly floated circumventing Congress to maintain his hold over the city’s law enforcement. “If it's a national emergency we can do it without Congress, but we expect to be before Congress very quickly,” Trump said.

Trump said he’ll ask for “long-term extensions” for his administration’s control of the Metropolitan Police Department.