On Monday, President Donald Trump revealed that he is placing the D.C. police department under federal control and deploying 800 National Guard members to tackle what he claims to be a crime surge in the capital.
This unprecedented move marks the first time in U.S. history that a president has federalized the district’s police force, a decision that faced immediate backlash from local government officials. They pointed out that crime has been on a downward trajectory in Washington.
During a dramatic news conference at the White House, Trump referred to D.C. as being immersed in chaos: “I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor, and worse. This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capitol back!”
He invoked his powers granted under Section 740 of the district’s Home Rule Act, which allows the president to request the mayor to relinquish control of the Metropolitan Police Department during emergencies.
However, keep in mind that this federal control is temporary, lasting no more than 30 days unless Congress steps in to extend it.
Trump’s focus on crime in the district is somewhat controversial. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, violent crime rates in D.C. plummeted to their lowest point in 30 years as of January.
Statistics from the Metropolitan Police Department reveal noticeable drops in homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and other violent crimes within the city this year.
Despite these promising statistics, the federal law enforcement presence has noticeably amplified lately.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalbe publicly criticized Trump’s measures, labeling them as “unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful.” He took to an X post, saying, “There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Violent crime in DC reached historic lows last year and is down another 26% so far this year. We are exploring all options to defend the rights and safety of D.C. residents.”
Democratic delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton provided similar criticisms, calling Trump’s tactics an “historic assault on D.C. home rule,” asserting that the Earth’s premier had misrepresented the crime landscape to justify his federal intervention.
In his announcements, Trump also declared that Attorney General Pam Bondi is stepping in to oversee the Metropolitan Police Department immediately, emphasizing that his team intends to restore lawfulness in D.C., indicating a potential military presence if conditions warrant.
The office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser hasn’t commented on Trump’s latest measures. However, she previously rejected his assertions that D.C. is in dire straits.
People visit Washington, starting new businesses and families within the capital, Bowser stated on MSNBC’s “The Weekend.” She characterized Trump’s remarks as an exaggeration, noting that any comparisons to war-torn areas were baseless.
Trumps incendiary posts leading up to the announcement revealed his stance. He tweeted, “Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!” On Sunday, Trump stated that “the Homeless” of D.C. must “move out, IMMEDIATELY,” reassuring that government alternatives for housing are available, yet not within the Capital.
The Trump administration has challenged the assertion that crime is declining in D.C. White House communications director Steven Cheung indicated on Monday that some police claims might suggest an influence in those stats.
Trump’s doubts regarding D.C. safety skyrocketed amid reports of recent assaults on his staff within the city.
Continued criticism from Trump also extends to the renovation costs of the Federal Reserve’s headquarters, which he believes is exorbitant relative to the work being done.
Earlier in June, federal forces were mobilized in Los Angeles to quell civil unrest, sparking a constitutional lawsuit from California Governor Gavin Newsom—concerning the legality of federal actions.
