President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will ask Congress to pass a crime bill that would let the federal government keep control of Washington, D.C.’s police force beyond the 30-day limit set by the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. Speaking at the Kennedy Center, the president called the current cap “too short” and said he expects Republican lawmakers to back what he described as “long-term extensions.” Trump assumed control of the Metropolitan Police Department on Aug. 11 and deployed about 800 National Guard troops as part of a wider anti-crime initiative in the capital. Under Section 740 of the Home Rule Act, such federalization may last no more than 30 days without a concurrent resolution of both chambers of Congress. The president added that he could declare a national emergency to prolong the takeover if lawmakers do not act, a claim legal specialists say is not addressed in the statute. Trump suggested any congressional authorization for Washington could become a template for similar measures in other U.S. cities.