OPINION: First DC, next Virginia? Why every community must fight for the right to self-govern

When I turned on the news and saw that the federal government had taken over Washington, DC’s police department—despite rapidly falling crime rates—my thoughts immediately went to the city’s janitors, security officers, and airport service workers, who are members of 32BJ SEIU, the union I lead in Virginia, DC, and Maryland.

Like most of us, these are working-class people, and we care deeply about our communities. We vote for leaders who have our best interests at heart. But what happens when those leaders are stripped of their power to govern?

On August 11, 2025, President Trump ordered a 30-day federal takeover of the DC Metropolitan Police Department, placing it under the control of the US Attorney General and sending in 800 National Guard troops. This isn’t about responding to crime—it’s about taking rights away from local communities, consolidating power, and setting a dangerous precedent of rule without representation. And now, the Heritage Foundation’s president is calling for MAGA state lawmakers to “de-charter” some cities—literally dissolve them and place them under state control—if they don’t like how voters there choose to govern themselves. 

This dangerous precedent is not unlike the challenges working people are fighting to overcome here in Virginia. Our commonwealth is a “Dillon’s Rule” state, which means cities and counties are governed by an obscure 19th-century legal theory that holds they can only exercise powers explicitly granted to them by the General Assembly. That could open a legal pathway for MAGA extremists to try to do exactly what the Heritage Foundation is calling for, whether it’s revoking Richmond’s charter, stripping Arlington of local control, or taking over Alexandria’s services. 

Essential workers — cleaners and security officers in office buildings and service workers at Dulles Airport are directly impacted by local legislation and know how critical it is for state and local lawmakers to stop attempts to take away local autonomy. The ability to make these decisions on these levels is referred to as “Home Rule.” 

MAGA is taking control of the federal government to try and undermine our rights and freedoms. It’s never been more important for our local governments to remain strong and maintain the power to protect our communities. We need to speak up and fight back against attempts to erode our democracy. If MAGA can force a federal government takeover of local police in the nation’s capital, it can happen next door in Virginia. Our silence would be an invitation for overreach.

The right to choose local leaders and hold them accountable is a cornerstone of our nation. Whether you’re a janitor in Arlington or a security officer in Alexandria, our voice should matter in shaping our community’s future. We cannot allow political power plays to silence it.

Once they take away one city’s right to govern itself, the rest of us could be next.