DC Mayor Muriel Bowser won't seek re-election amid Trump's federal intervention

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Tuesday she will not seek a fourth term, stepping aside after a turbulent year marked by unprecedented intervention ordered by President Donald Trump. Her announcement, delivered in a video message on social media, ended months of speculation about her political future.

Bowser did not mention Trump directly, but she urged residents to "stand tall against bullies who threaten our very autonomy while preserving Home Rule," calling the principle the city's "North Star". She credited residents for making the capital a better place over her three terms in office since 2015.

Bowser's final year in office became her most fraught as she managed a delicate balance between cooperating with the White House and addressing frustration among residents who accused her of not forcefully opposing Trump's actions.

Washington, DC, has long operated under a limited Home Rule arrangement enacted in 1973, giving residents a local government while keeping Congress in control of the budget and the ability to overturn laws passed by the DC Council. The federal government has periodically stepped into local affairs, but the past year saw an extraordinary escalation.

In August, Trump issued an emergency order that federalised the city's police force and deployed hundreds of Guard troops for what the administration called a crime-fighting mission. Though the emergency period has expired, federal law enforcement and Guard personnel from several states remain in the city amid ongoing legal disputes.

Bowser repeatedly said that crime had fallen and that federal assistance played a role, but she sharply criticised the deployment of the Guard. She also stated the city would not aid federal immigration enforcement actions.

CRITICISM FROM RESIDENTS AND CITY COUNCIL

The mayor faced repeated criticism from constituents and some council members, who argued she had failed to defend the city's autonomy. Trump has hailed the federal intervention as a success, intensifying the political pressure on Bowser.

The district, led by its attorney general, is now pursuing legal action against the administration. A federal judge ruled on 20 November that the deployment of the Guard was unlawful and ordered it to end. Separately, immigrants' rights groups are challenging the federal surge and related operations conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bowser also battled with Congress throughout the year over nearly $1 billion in city funding stalled during federal budget disputes. At the same time, DC absorbed sharp workforce reductions across agencies affected by the Department of Government Efficiency's cuts.

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With inputs from Associated Press