On Thursday night, the White House announced an increase in the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., for at least the next week. This decision comes in light of President Donald Trump's assertions that his administration may take over the city's governance entirely. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, emphasized the need for enhanced security, stating, "Washington, D.C. is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long." President Trump has directed federal law enforcement to take action to protect innocent citizens in the capital.
Leavitt further detailed that the augmented federal presence would ensure "there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C." The President has repeatedly hinted at the possibility of reinstating federal authority over Washington, which would necessitate the repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973. Trump mentioned that his legal team is assessing the implications of such a move, though it could encounter significant opposition in Congress.
Trump remarked on the state of Washington by stating, "We have a capital that’s very unsafe," adding, "We have to run D.C." The White House's plan to bolster law enforcement aims to "make D.C. safe again" and began with federal officers taking to the streets starting at midnight, following a roll call at 11 p.m. Thursday. This initiative will last for seven days, with the potential for extension as needed, under the authority of Trump's earlier executive order that established the Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force.
The law enforcement agencies involved in this initiative include the U.S. Capitol Police, the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Protective Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Additionally, police forces from Amtrak and the city's Metro rail service are also participating in this operation.
Trump's long-standing narrative of rising crime and violence in Washington has recently expanded to include issues like litter and graffiti. The increase in police presence was catalyzed by a violent incident over the weekend, in which Edward Coristine, a member of the Department of Government Efficiency, was assaulted by a group of teenagers during an attempted carjacking. Coristine, known as "Big Balls," was a prominent figure in the effort to streamline government jobs and reduce federal bureaucracy. Law enforcement has since arrested two 15-year-olds in connection with the assault and is actively searching for additional suspects.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned, "If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore." He also mentioned the possibility of repealing Washington's limited Home Rule autonomy or quickly deploying the National Guard.
This announcement comes amid claims from Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser's administration that there has been a reduction in the number of homicides and carjackings in the city, both of which had seen significant spikes in 2023. Statistics show that carjackings dropped considerably from 957 in 2023 to just under 500 in 2024, and the current year is on track to show a further decrease, with fewer than 200 incidents reported midway through 2025.
