After President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., his efforts hit a roadblock in federal court as the city’s attorney general challenged U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s order stripping the local police chief of power.

White House efforts to tighten its grip on the Washington, D.C., police force are prompting pushback from the city’s leaders, escalating tensions as the Trump administration sought to compel Washington’s help with immigration enforcement.

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Friday evening issued an additional order that directs the District of Columbia’s police force to

He’s spent more than 31 years as a law enforcement officer, including 22 at the DEA. At the agency, he worked in Oklahoma, New York and Washington. He spent time overseas in Colombia, Afghanistan and the Middle East. The agency said he fought drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

The attorney general’s comments came as she issued a new directive voiding commands issued – as recently as earlier Thursday –  by DC Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith.

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith will remain in control of the Metropolitan Police Department after D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit Friday challenging what he called an unlawful attempt by the federal government to seize control of the city’s police force.

The Justice Department sent letters to sanctuary jurisdictions demanding cooperation with immigration enforcement or face legal action in court.