Washington, D.C. Area Police Departments Refuse to Assist with Trump's 2025 Inauguration Security Due to MOU Dispute

Jan 17, 2025, 08:58 PM

More than half a dozen local police departments in the Washington, D.C. area, including those from Montgomery, Howard, and Queen Anne's County in Maryland, have confirmed they will not assist the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with security for Donald Trump's 2025 Presidential Inauguration. This decision stems from disputes over a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with MPD, particularly related to the department's use-of-force policy. The MPD had previously announced that nearly 4,000 officers from across the U.S. would be involved in securing the event, but the refusal of these local departments could result in a shortfall of hundreds of officers. The inauguration ceremony has been moved indoors, officially due to cold weather, but concerns about Trump's safety following recent assassination attempts may also be a factor.