On Monday, President Donald Trump announced sweeping measures to take control of the police department in Washington, D.C., citing a public safety emergency. Trump revealed plans to activate 800 members of the National Guard in an effort to combat crime, despite local officials asserting that crime rates in the city are already declining.
During a press conference at the White House, attended by key figures including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump declared, “We’re going to take our capital back.” He also pledged to remove homeless encampments, referring to them as part of the city's "slums." The announcement highlighted Trump's ongoing push for aggressive law enforcement policies, drawing on the unique status of the District of Columbia as a federally controlled district.
Trump announced that Attorney General Pam Bondi would oversee the Metropolitan Police Department, emphasizing issues such as potholes and graffiti as embarrassments that needed addressing. Although he did not provide a timeline for the takeover, he is limited to a 30-day period under existing statutes unless Congress grants further authorization.
Local officials reacted strongly against Trump’s portrayal of the district and his planned actions. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb labeled the actions “unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful,” citing that violent crime has significantly dropped this year, reaching a historic low not seen in 30 years. Mayor Muriel Bowser echoed these concerns, stating that Trump’s actions underscored the necessity for Washington, D.C., to gain statehood, which would afford it greater legal protections against federal overreach.
In his remarks, Trump rejected the notion that Washington requires an expanded police force, arguing that “rules and regulations” along with the right personnel would suffice. He invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to justify his actions, indicating a planned directive to activate the National Guard under the oversight of Defense Secretary Hegseth.
The federal response includes deploying approximately 500 federal law enforcement officers throughout the capital, including over 100 FBI agents and personnel from various agencies, such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. However, Bowser expressed skepticism about the effective use of the National Guard for law enforcement duties, suggesting that federal resources could be better spent on increasing prosecutorial staff or filling judicial vacancies in D.C. courts.
Trump's focus on addressing homelessness in Washington has been met with criticism. Advocates for homeless individuals decried his plans as authoritarian, with Jesse Rabinowitz from the National Homelessness Law Center labeling them “fascist.” Critics argue that rather than addressing the root causes of homelessness, Trump's plans reflect a punitive approach devoid of compassion or adequate support.
Crime statistics indicate a continued downward trend in the D.C. area, with overall violent crime down 26% compared to the previous year. Despite Trump’s characterizations of the city as filled with "tent cities" and pervasive filth, local leaders maintain that crime is not at crisis levels and highlight improvements over time.
Trump has repeatedly indicated that the federal government should assume greater control over Washington, suggesting that legal adjustments, such as repealing the Home Rule Act of 1973, are being considered. Bowser countered that current laws do allow broader federal control under specific conditions that are not present in the city at this time.
As Trump’s announcement prompted protests outside the White House, local officials underscored their commitment to legal governance and community safety, refuting claims of a crime emergency while asserting the importance of local autonomy and governance in D.C.
