Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a directive on Thursday naming the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as Washington’s “emergency police commissioner” amid the federal takeover of the district’s police department.
The directive states that DEA Administrator Terry Cole will “assume all of the powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police” for the duration of the public safety emergency imposed on the city.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), including its current police chief and commanders, will have to obtain Cole’s approval before issuing any orders moving forward, it stated.
Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Terrance Cole listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Aug. 11, 2025. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo
This is a breaking story and will be updated with additional details.
