Washington — District of Columbia Police Chief Pamela A. Smith appeared puzzled during a press briefing on Aug. 12 when a reporter asked whether she understood the department’s current chain of command, replying, “What does that mean?” The question referred to the leadership structure that followed former President Donald Trump’s invocation of the Home Rule Act, which shifted operational authority for the Metropolitan Police Department to federal oversight. Smith’s remark drew swift criticism from political commentators who said the exchange underscored uncertainty at the top of the capital’s 3,800-officer force. Smith, who previously served as the department’s chief equity officer, has not issued a clarification. The incident adds to lingering questions over how the agency will function under its revised command hierarchy.