This story is part of WTOP’s ongoing series, Trump Impact, which looks at how the new administration could change the D.C. region.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Tuesday congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his victory while signaling there could be tension on the horizon between Republican leadership in the federal government and D.C.’s local government, which is controlled by Democrats.

“The District has home rule, and the Congress could change it,” Bowser said during a news conference, referring to the Home Rule Act of 1973, which created the city’s local government.

While Bowser said she did not expect radical changes to home rule, she said the city has been planning for months, deciding what it should do if “the District has to defend itself.”

“We’re not in a new place, we’ve been in this place before, and what we have done is … we’ve defended ourselves,” Bowser said. “That would be our approach in any further occurrence.”

There has been an ongoing feud between federal and local lawmakers over self-government in the nation’s capital.

Last year, the House and Senate passed a bill to overturn changes to the city’s criminal code that had been approved by the D.C. Council. President Joe Biden signed the measure, reflecting a shift in the long-held Democratic position that the federal government should let D.C. govern itself.

The criminal code rewrite was the first D.C. law to be completely overturned in such a way since 1991.

However, because D.C. is not a state, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability essentially vets all new District laws and frequently alters or limits them through “budget riders.”

With Republicans likely in full control of Congress, they’ve signaled that they may try to make numerous changes, such as prohibiting the District’s government from using automated traffic enforcement cameras, requiring residents show photo ID in order to vote or repealing a law that allows noncitizens to vote in local elections.

There has even been talk about trying to federalize the D.C. police department.

“I’ve worked with three presidents — including President-elect Trump — and congressional leaders of both parties to advance the priorities of the District,” Bowser said. “Washington, D.C. is prepared to welcome the new administration, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth and collaborative transition.”

Bowser said she finds common ground with Republicans in some areas, such as wanting federal employees to return to their offices in-person and wanting to find new uses for underutilized government buildings.

“We’ve been in the planning process for the inauguration since the midsummer,” said D.C. police Chief Pamela Smith, who added that authorities were already monitoring planned demonstrations around Trump’s inauguration which is set for Jan. 20. “Currently, we’re tracking four major events with respect to First Amendment activity.”

She said law enforcement agencies from around the country have agreed to provide resources, including an extra 4,000 officers to help with security for the event.

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WASHINGTON – Ahead of the January inauguration, D.C. leaders say they are committed to the peaceful transfer of power and the security measures they have been tasked to handle.

At a briefing Tuesday, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said her team and other partners have been planning for the January 20 inauguration since mid-summer. 

Agencies across the country have been intentional about supporting D.C. law enforcement, Chief Smith said.

“We hope we can get to 4,000 police officers to assist us in this process. We are close to that number. We do have other agencies who are continuing to reach out to us. As they reach out, we will accept their request to provide mutual aid support for the District of Columbia during the inauguration process,” Smith said Tuesday.

Along with the January 20 inauguration, the 2025 Counting and Certification of Electoral Votes has been set for January 6.

“Certainly, working with the D.C. government agencies [including] fire and EMS, OUC, which are the parameters and nerve center here for the District of Columbia, we continue to prepare with our internal agencies on a regular basis,” Smith said. “With our federal partners, we have been meeting on a bi-weekly basis. Sometimes, a weekly basis to determine what intelligence information that may arise, not just in D.C. but across the U.S.”

Smith added Tuesday, that the department is also tracking other potentially large-scale events.

“Currently, we’re tracking I think four major…if you want to call it…major events as it relates to First Amendment activity. As you know, this is nothing new to the MPD. We handle large protests and demonstrations, not just coming on the heels of a January 6th certification of the elections and inauguration, but we do this year-round,” she said. “We signed up for this job. We understand the risks are and what’s associated with this, and as with any protests and demonstrations, we will be prepared to address what comes with that.”

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office, there are questions surrounding what a second Trump term could look like for the district. D.C. Mayor Muriel said her office has requested a meeting with the president-elect.

“We have been discussing and planning for many months in the case that the District has to defend itself and its values on all regards. In terms of what we should know is that we’re still a country of laws and the district has home rule and the congress could change it, they could. It is possible. That is probably, as you mentioned, not a likely occurrence,” Mayor Bowser said. “What I think is important for all DC residents to recognize, we’re not in a new place. We’ve been in this place before. What we have done, is we have followed the law and we defended ourselves and that would be our approach in any further occurrence.”

‘Home rule’  refers to the law signed in 1973 by President Richard Nixon, which created a local government for Washington, D.C. It granted DC residents the ability to elect a mayor and council, but Congress retained the power to overrule local legislation and D.C. residents remained without a vote in Congress. 

Trump has also been vocal on the intention to overhaul federal departments and agencies by firing “corrupt actors in [the] National Security and Intelligence apparatus” and moving as many as 100,000 government positions out of D.C.

Bowser said some of those are not in D.C. proper and would welcome a meeting on the federal workforce.

“There is a lot that our region offers to attract and retain and have a productive federal workforce, so we’re going to make our pitch,” she said Tuesday.

On inauguration safety, a spokesperson for the U.S. Secret Service released the following statement to FOX 5 on Tuesday:

“We continue to work closely with our law enforcement and public safety partners as we plan for the 2025 Counting and Certification of Electoral Votes on Jan. 6, and the 2025 Presidential Inauguration on Jan. 20, both of which have been designated National Special Security Events. More details, including the security perimeter and road closures, will be released a few weeks prior to each event.”

We share the best things to do every weekend in The Weekend Scene newsletter – it’s completely free to subscribe!

It’s a big weekend if you like theater and live comedy or holiday lights displays!

Also, the Washington Spirit are back in the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs for the first time since winning the championship in 2021. You can watch the semifinal match at Audi Field on Saturday.

Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

The Second City’s Dance Like There’s Black People Watching: Through Dec. 22, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Northwest, $64+

The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture: Open into September 2025, Smithsonian American Art Museum, free

Musical: “Six”: Through Dec. 1, National Theatre, $119+

Gifted Week in honor of Wale Day: Through Nov. 17, various events in the D.C. area

Cry n’ Vibe: Tues., 5:30-8 p.m., Southwest Library (or live on TikTok), free

Chocolate & Wine Tasting: Exquisite Chocolates & Truffles, Wine from Spain: Weds., 7-8:30 p.m., The Chocolate House (1904 18th Street NW), $55

Umbrella Art Fair: Fri. to Sun., Dock 5 at Union Market, free but RSVP required

Comedy: Julie Kim: Fri. to Sat., DC Improv, $22

Comedy: Tinder Live with Lane Moore: Fri., doors at 6:30 p.m., Lincoln Theatre, $35

Washington Spirit vs. NJ/NY Gotham FC in semifinals: Sat., noon, Audi Field, $21+

Meet the Makers Food and Beverage Expo: Sat., 3-6 p.m., Union Kitchen Eckington (1625 Eckington Place NE), $17.50-$31

Sounds of US: An Immersive New Music Festival: Sat., The Kennedy Center, free programming on the REACH, main stage tickets cost $20

Last chance: Twilight Zone: Hidden Wonders of the Ocean at ARTECHOUSE: Through Nov. 19, 1238 Maryland Ave SW, $25+ for adults

What to do in Maryland

Strathmore Museum Shop Holiday Market: Thurs. to Sat., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Mansion (10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda), $10 suggested donation

ICE! featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas”: Nov. 15 to Dec. 28, Gaylord National at National Harbor, $26.99+

Wale: Fri., MGM National Harbor, $82+

Community Tree Planting: Sat., 8:30 a.m. to noon, Suitland Metro Station, free

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade: Sat., 10 a.m., Veterans Plaza, free

Holiday Movies on the Potomac – “The Grinch (2000)”: Sun., National Harbor, free

What to do in Virginia

Winter Walk of Lights: Through Jan. 5, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, $18-$22

Bull Run Festival of Lights: Nov. 15 to Jan. 4, Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, $30 per vehicle

Ice & Lights-The Winter Village at Cameron Run: Nov. 15 to Feb. 23 (ice skating opens Nov. 29), Alexandria, Virginia, $8.55+

Alexandria Clay Co-Op’s Holiday Ceramics Sale: Fri. and Sat., 2389 South Dove Street, Alexandria, $20 on Friday (benefitting World Central Kitchen) or free entry on Saturday

DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival: Sat. and Sun., Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, $14+

Discovering Alexandria Architecture Walking Tour: Sat., 10-11 a.m.,

Thanksgiving wine tasting: Sat., 3-5 p.m., Wine Gallery 108 in Alexandria, $30

Astronomy Festival: Sat., 5 p.m., Turner Farm Park Observatory, $10

“I’ll Take You There: Stax Records Co.”: Through Nov. 24, Signature Theatre in Arlington, $46+

10th Annual Workhouse Glass International: Through Jan. 12, Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, free

Coming up soon

Downtown DC Holiday Market: Nov. 22 to Dec. 23, F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW, free entry

ZooLights: Nov. 22 to Jan. 4, National Zoo, $6 per guest age 2 and up

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.