Should Congress intervene to undo D.C.’s policing and justice reforms?
The CLEAN DC Act repeals nearly all of the District of Columbia’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, effectively undoing its policing and justice reforms and restoring previous laws as if the 2022 Act had never been passed. However, it preserves two sections of the original law: Subtitle S of Title I and Subtitle A of Title I, meaning those specific provisions remain in effect while the rest of the policing and justice reforms are rolled back.
Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Clyde (Republican, Georgia, District 9)
View full bill text ➔
How do you feel?
Oppose
Support
Opponents say
• "Today, national politicians, seeking to score points for their next hometown election, voted to overturn a law that is essential to public safety and effective policing in the District of Columbia. By allowing the Chief of Police to discipline officers who violate peoples’ constitutional rights, prohibiting dangerous tactics like chokeholds, and enhancing police transparency, the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act increases trust between police officers and the communities they serve. Every good police officer knows that enhanced community trust allows them to perform their jobs more safely and effectively, ultimately improving public safety overall. Out-of-state politicians don’t know or care more about public safety in Washington, DC than the more than 700,000 residents who live here. Instead of using DC as a political football, members of Congress should focus on addressing the needs of their own communities and allow the residents of the District of Columbia to legislate for ourselves." Source: Brian L. Schwalb, Attorney General for the District of Columbia
• "I strongly oppose this profoundly undemocratic, paternalistic resolution. The House of Representatives, in which the nearly 700,000 District of Columbia residents have no voting representation, is attempting to nullify legislation enacted by D.C.’s local legislature, whose members are elected by D.C. residents. By scheduling this vote, I can only conclude that the Republican leadership believes that D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and Brown, are unworthy of governing themselves." Source: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat, District of Columbia)
Proponents say
• "Congress must once again exercise our constitutional authority to repeal the D.C. City Council’s anti-police law that has recklessly put criminals first and our men and women in blue last. Unlike Joe Biden, who vetoed this commonsense legislation in 2023, President Trump stands for law and order. Sending the CLEAN D.C. Act to President Trump’s desk will further bolster his successful efforts to make our nation’s capital safe again for the American people. I thank Senator Cruz for leading this critical bill in the Senate, and I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put public safety over politics by supporting our efforts to repeal the D.C. Council’s severely misguided law." Source: Rep. Andrew Clyde (Republican, Georgia, District 9)
• "Violent crime has become endemic in Washington D.C. as a direct result of political and ideological decisions made by Democrats. Those decisions included passing and trying to lock in anti-police measures such as the Orwellian-named Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, which undermined police morale, weakened officer retention, and contributed to a still-ongoing public safety disaster. The CLEAN D.C. Act will reverse that decision, and I call upon my colleagues in Congress to pass it." Source: Sen. Ted Cruz (Republican, Texas)
• "The D.C. Police Union, representing 3,000 dedicated officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), expresses profound gratitude to Congressman Andrew Clyde for his steadfast leadership in introducing legislation in Congress to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act, a misguided and harmful law that has plagued our city's public safety since its enactment. This new repeal effort is a critical step toward restoring common-sense law enforcement in our Nation's Capital. The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act has not reformed anything, it has enabled lawlessness, endangered officers and their families, and driven away the very professionals needed to keep D.C. safe. We urge all members of Congress to pass this repeal with the same bipartisan resolve shown in 2023, and we call on the President to sign it into law. Our city cannot afford another day of this failed experiment." Source: Gregg Pemberton, D.C. Police Union Chairman
- Rep. Clyde, Sen. Cruz Introduce the CLEAN D.C. Act (Press Release)
- D.C. Law 24-345. Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 (Council of D.C.)
- Office of Police Complaints Releases 2024 Use of Force Report (DC.gov)
- D.C. Leaders Begin Lobbying Congress Against Efforts to Block Policing Bill (Washington Post)
- Rep. Andrew Clyde’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
