President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is declaring a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C., placing the city’s police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard in what he described as an unprecedented effort to reduce crime in the nation’s capital.
Standing alongside key federal officials, Trump stated that the action was intended to “stop violent crime in Washington, D.C.” and compared it to what he said was a successful effort at the southern border. “We’re here for a very serious purpose. Very serious, very,” Trump said. “Something’s out of control. But we’re going to put it in control very quickly, like we did in the southern border. 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 DC, and we’re going to take our capital back.”
Under the plan, Attorney General Pam Bondi will assume command of the Metropolitan Police Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole will serve as interim federal commissioner. Trump was joined at the announcement by Bondi, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum — all of whom will play roles in the federal oversight.
Bondi echoed Trump’s message, declaring, “Let me be crystal clear. Crime in DC is ending and ending today. We are going to use every power we have to fight criminals here.”
Federal Control and Increased Law Enforcement Presence
Trump had promoted the news conference in multiple posts on his social media platform, saying it would also address “Cleanliness and the General Physical Renovation and Condition of our once beautiful and well maintained Capital.” In another post, he criticized the city’s homeless encampments and stated, “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
The announcement follows a March executive order titled “Make the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,” and comes after Trump last week ordered an increase in law enforcement presence. The White House described the initiative as “a whole of government approach to improve overall public safety,” targeting tourist areas and known crime hotspots. Federal officers involved will operate in marked units and be “highly visible,” according to officials.
Despite Trump’s claims about rising crime, preliminary data from the Metropolitan Police Department shows a 7% decrease in overall crime compared to last year, with violent crime down 26% and property crime reduced by 5%.
Trump criticized D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, saying she had failed to adequately reduce crime. “The Mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, is a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances, and the Crime Numbers get worse, and the City only gets dirtier and less attractive. The American Public is not going to put up with it any longer,” he said.
Bowser disputed that characterization, telling MSNBC that violent crime has been driven down to a 30-year low in 2025 after a spike in 2023. She credited cooperation between city agencies, law enforcement, prosecutors, and federal authorities.
