DC Mayor Implements Juvenile Curfew Amidst Federal Tensions and Public Disorder

Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has enacted a limited juvenile curfew across several parts of the city, effective from November 1 through November 5, 2025, in response to a significant teen melee in the Navy Yard neighborhood. The emergency measure comes as the city continues to navigate complex dynamics with federal authorities, a situation highlighted by a recent social media post from conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, who claimed "Chaos in DC!" and referenced a "big threat" from former President Donald Trump.

The curfew mandates that all individuals under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult if they are out between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., with specific "Special Juvenile Curfew Zones" in areas like Navy Yard, U Street Corridor, Union Station, and the Banneker Recreation Center enforcing the curfew as early as 6 p.m. Mayor Bowser stated the measure was "necessary to ensure that the police can disperse large groups of teens" following Friday night's disruptive events, which led to multiple arrests.

This local emergency declaration unfolds against a backdrop of heightened federal-city tensions. In September 2025, former President Donald Trump threatened to declare a national emergency and federalize Washington D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department if Mayor Bowser's administration ceased cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This threat followed an earlier federal law enforcement surge in August 2025, during which Trump temporarily took control of the MPD under a "crime emergency" declaration.

Mayor Bowser had previously issued an executive order in early September, aiming to establish a framework for continued coordination with federal law enforcement while asserting the city's autonomy as Trump's 30-day emergency declaration expired. She had also credited the federal surge with contributing to a decline in crime rates but maintained that immigration enforcement was not a primary function of the MPD. The ongoing interplay between local governance and federal oversight continues to shape the capital's public safety landscape.