The District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Friday to block President Donald Trump’s takeover of its police department, hours after his administration named a federal official as the department’s emergency head.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith warned the move would “threaten law and order” by dismantling the command structure. “In my nearly three decades in law enforcement, I have never seen a single government action that would cause a greater threat to law and order than this dangerous directive,” she said in a court filing.

District Attorney General Brian Schwalb argued the order placing Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole in charge is illegal and would “wreak operational havoc.” He urged the court to reverse it, calling the administration’s actions “an affront” to the city’s 700,000 residents.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday that Cole would approve all directives to officers, rescinding the city’s “sanctuary” policies. Mayor Muriel Bowser countered that no law allows a federal official to control D.C. personnel.

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At a hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes questioned Bondi’s authority to sideline Smith. The Justice Department declined to comment.

The takeover, framed by Trump as part of a “tough-on-crime” and immigration crackdown, marks one of the most sweeping federal assertions over a local government in modern times. National Guard troops, federal agents and 20 law enforcement teams have been deployed, arresting 33 people, including 15 undocumented migrants.

Protesters rallied outside police headquarters, chanting “Protect home rule!” as the city braced for a deepening political and legal fight over its autonomy.