President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is taking unprecedented steps to address public safety concerns in the nation’s capital, federalizing Washington, D.C.’s police department and deploying 800 National Guard troops to the city. The move comes under a declaration of a “public safety emergency” and marks one of the most sweeping federal interventions in the District’s policing in recent history.
Speaking from the White House, Trump framed the decision as a necessary action to combat what he described as “crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor” in the District. “I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital,” the president said. “Washington, D.C. must once again be a safe, beautiful, and welcoming city.”
The executive order Trump signed invokes a provision of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, allowing the president to assume direct control of the city’s police force for up to 30 days. Beyond that period, congressional approval is required to maintain federal oversight. Under the order, the Metropolitan Police Department will be placed under the command of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
National Guard Deployment
The announcement also included the immediate activation and deployment of 800 members of the D.C. National Guard. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said the Guard will be operationally managed by Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll. “You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week,” Hegseth told reporters, adding that their mission would focus on visible deterrence and rapid response to public safety incidents.
Trump was joined at the press conference by Bondi, Hegseth, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, FBI Director Kash Patel, and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro. Burgum noted that a significant portion of Washington’s parks and public spaces are under federal jurisdiction and policed by the U.S. Park Police. He confirmed that federal officers would continue enforcing bans on camping and graffiti on federal property.
According to Burgum, more than 70 encampments have been cleared from federal land since Trump signed a separate March executive order titled “Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful Again.” He said these efforts would continue alongside the new policing measures.
Trump Cites Crime Statistics, Critics Point to Downward Trend
To justify the federalisation of the police, Trump presented a chart comparing D.C.’s homicide rate in 2023 to those of other major cities, including Bogota, Colombia; Mexico City; and Lima, Peru. The chart, which has circulated widely online, shows the District’s homicide rate surpassing that of several cities known internationally for violent crime.
“The murder rate in Washington is higher than in Bogota,” Trump claimed. “That’s unacceptable in the capital of the United States.”
However, the homicide statistics used in the chart reflect data from 2023, a year when the city experienced a sharp spike in violent crime. Official police data shows that homicide and violent crime rates have been steadily declining. As of mid-2025, violent crime in D.C. is down 26 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.
Local officials and criminal justice experts have pointed to these numbers as evidence that the city’s safety situation, while still concerning, is improving without federal intervention.
Blame on Local Policies and the Biden Administration
Trump placed responsibility for the city’s crime challenges on both local leaders and the Biden administration, criticising policies related to cash bail and pretrial release. “These dangerous policies put violent offenders back on the street before the ink is dry on their arrest reports,” he said.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, standing alongside Trump, echoed these criticisms. “We cannot allow violent criminals to treat this city as their playground,” Pirro said. “This federal action will restore law and order.”
Bondi, now overseeing the D.C. police, pledged a “zero-tolerance” approach to violent crime and pledged increased coordination between federal law enforcement and local officers.
Historical and Political Context
The federalisation of D.C.’s police is rare and historically controversial. While the president has limited authority over the city’s local government, the Home Rule Act grants emergency powers in specific circumstances. Trump’s decision mirrors past instances where federal control was asserted during civil unrest, but critics argue the current situation does not rise to that level of emergency.
Political analysts note that the move is likely to deepen divisions between the White House and D.C.’s local leadership, which has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over public safety, homelessness, and urban policy.
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Mayor Muriel Bowser, a frequent critic of Trump, has not yet issued a formal statement on the federal takeover. In previous comments on the prospect of federalisation, she warned it would undermine local autonomy and erode public trust in law enforcement.
Next Steps and Uncertainty Ahead
Trump’s executive order sets a 30-day clock for federal control of the police, after which Congress must approve any extension. In the meantime, the administration plans to coordinate National Guard patrols, federal police actions, and local enforcement under Bondi’s leadership.
Officials have not specified whether the Guard will engage directly in routine policing or limit their role to securing federal buildings, transportation hubs, and significant public spaces. The Department of Defence indicated that rules of engagement would be clarified before troops take to the streets later this week.
For residents, the move brings both reassurance and apprehension. Supporters argue that a visible federal presence will deter violent crime and bring rapid improvements in public safety. Critics fear it will lead to over-policing, civil rights violations, and heightened tensions between law enforcement and the community.
Whether Trump’s intervention will have a lasting impact—or simply serve as a high-profile show of force—remains to be seen. But for now, Washington, D.C., faces an unprecedented federal hand in its policing, with the eyes of the nation watching closely.
