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.”
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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.
Context Behind the Federal Takeover
Trump has repeatedly suggested the possibility of a federal takeover of D.C. since his inauguration in January. Last week, he warned that the National Guard could be deployed, following the beating of former Department of Government Efficiency employee Edward Coristine, who was injured after intervening in a carjacking.
From the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump expanded on his concer
ns, citing not only crime rates but also infrastructure conditions. “So whether you call it federalize or what. And that also includes the graffiti that you see, the papers all over the place, the roads that are in bad shape, the medians that are falling down, the median in between roads, it’s falling down,” he said. “We’re going to beautify the city. We’re going to make it beautiful. And, what a shame. Rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else. We’re not going to let it. And that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the administration’s stance in a statement last week, saying, “Washington, DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long. President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. There will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C. President Trump is committed to making our Nation’s capital safer for its residents, lawmakers, and visitors from all around the world.”
Agencies Involved in the Operation
The White House confirmed that the seven-day law enforcement initiative is being led by the U.S. Park Police. Other agencies participating include the Metro Transit Police Department, Amtrak Police Department, United States Capitol Police, Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Protective Service, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, United States Marshals Service, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Department of Interior, Pre-Trial Services Agency, and the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA).
Federal Takeover Marks Major Shift in DC Policing
The federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department, combined with the deployment of the National Guard and a large-scale law enforcement operation, represents one of the most direct federal interventions in Washington, D.C., in recent history. While Trump and his administration frame the move as a decisive step to reduce crime and improve the city’s appearance, city leaders point to recent declines in crime and stress local efforts that have contributed to safety improvements. The outcome of this federal initiative will be closely monitored in the coming weeks.
