President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will seek “long-term” extensions from Congress to maintain federal control over Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department. Under Section 740 of the District’s Home Rule Act, the takeover he ordered on Monday expires after 30 days unless lawmakers vote to prolong it. Speaking at the Kennedy Center, Trump argued the measure is necessary to curb what he called a surge in violent crime and homelessness. He added that, if Congress refuses, he could keep the federalization in place by declaring a national emergency, saying, “I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will.” The administration has paired the police takeover with National Guard deployments and a task force that, according to White House figures cited by Fox News, has arrested more than 100 people since Aug. 7, including 43 on Tuesday alone. Trump said the effort will be backed by a forthcoming crime bill and could serve as a model for other U.S. cities.