Trump’s aggressive tactics force a reckoning between local leaders and Washington

In an unprecedented shift, local officials across the United States are now preparing for potential federal intervention in their jurisdictions, marking a dramatic deterioration in the relationship between different levels of government.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston revealed that his administration now includes federal government actions in disaster preparedness planning. Traditionally focused on natural disasters and environmental hazards, Denver officials now simulate responses to potential federal interference with schools, hospitals, and elections.

“We used to prepare for natural disasters,” Johnston, a Democrat, said. “Now we prepare for our own federal government.”

This concern stems partly from President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to certain U.S. cities last year despite opposition from local leaders. Denver, which the Trump administration has sued over limiting cooperation on deportations, sees itself as potentially vulnerable to similar federal actions.

At least half a dozen state and local officials from both parties describe an increasingly adversarial relationship with Washington that has reached new levels of tension following the killing of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.

Jerry Dyer, the Republican mayor of Fresno, California, and a former police chief, described the situation as unprecedented. “I’ve never seen federal law enforcement come to the cities, whether it’s National Guard or ICE, and police cities without a level of cooperation from local police,” he said.

The dynamic has upended traditional political alignments. Republicans have historically championed states’ rights and limited federal power under the 10th Amendment. Now, a Republican president is asserting broader federal authority while Democrats advocate for local control.

“There’s no question that the Trump administration has repeatedly violated the Constitution and how it deals with states,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, who hopes the nation is approaching a turning point similar to the end of McCarthyism.

President Trump has expressed frustration at what he sees as reflexive resistance from Democratic leaders, insisting he prefers cooperation with officials like Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry, who requested National Guard troops for New Orleans.

Trump’s approach to federalism appears inconsistent across policy areas. He favors state authority on abortion and education while asserting stronger federal control over immigration and elections. His recent comment that Republicans should “nationalize” elections drew criticism even from Republican Senator Rand Paul, who noted, “That’s not what the Constitution says about elections.”

The tensions peaked following federal immigration operations in Minneapolis. While the administration has replaced ICE and Department of Homeland Security leaders there with border czar Tom Homan and withdrawn some officers, thousands remain. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey characterizes the situation as an “invasion” and “occupation,” while Trump refers to federal agents as “soldiers” and officials describe them as being “in theater.”

The impact extends beyond Minneapolis. Elizabeth Kautz, the Republican mayor of suburban Burnsville, Minnesota, now carries her passport within her own city, which she has led since 1995. “With the introduction of ICE, our cities are no longer safe,” she said.

Matt Tuerk, Democratic mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, notes that enforcement actions in Minnesota create fear in his city’s large Latino population despite no direct ICE presence there. “What I can’t tolerate is the approach to immigration operations in a place like Minneapolis that are causing people to look over their shoulder in cities like Allentown,” he said.

Local officials also face practical challenges as Washington cancels grants deemed wasteful or misaligned with administration priorities. Some mayors have turned to philanthropic sources to fill gaps, but as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass noted, nothing can replace federal resources.

As tensions continue, local leaders find themselves in uncharted territory. Jim Hovland, the nonpartisan mayor of Edina, a Minneapolis suburb, expressed dismay at the deteriorating relationship: “You think about, ‘Why us?’ We’ve had a historically really good relationship with the federal government, and it’s really sad to see it fray.”

For Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, the change is profound. “Given that the administration has used partisan politics and used the power of the federal government and its various agencies to put pressure on mayors and local officials not to follow the law but to follow their politics is absolutely new and it’s absolutely affecting trust at every level.”