Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images News / Getty Images
President Donald Trump has announced that he's taking federal control of the Washington, D.C., police department and deploying 800 National Guard troops to the city in response to what he called an “out-of-control crime wave," per the New York Times.
“The people of Washington, D.C., are living in fear, and I will not stand by while bloodthirsty criminals terrorize our capital,” Trump said during a White House press briefing. “If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take federal control of the city.”
Trump's move overrides local authority, marking a sharp escalation in his efforts to exert federal power over cities, especially ones run by Democrats.
On Monday (August 11), Trump invoked a provision of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to justify his D.C. takeover, declaring a public safety emergency. Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi would oversee the Metropolitan Police Department.
“We will restore law and order to our nation’s capital. If that means sending in the military, we will do it," he added.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb refuted Trump's "crime emergency" claims.
"The Administration’s actions are unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful. There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents," Schwalb wrote on X.
Trump has cited a recent attempted carjacking against Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old federal employee, as evidence of "rampant lawlessness" in D.C. However, federal data shows violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low.
"This is what happens when liberal leaders refuse to protect their cities. We’re stepping in," Trump wrote on social media last week.
During Monday's press briefing, Trump also threatened to take federal control of other Democratic cities, including Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.
“If these far-left mayors won’t protect their citizens, we will. We’re not going to let these cities burn under weak leadership anymore," the president said.
Critics say Trump's move sets a dangerous precedent for Democratic-led cities and communities of color.
“This isn’t about public safety — it’s about power,” one D.C. Council member said. “What we’re seeing is the federal government using fear to justify seizing control of local institutions. If it can happen here, it can happen anywhere.”
The Trump administration also announced plans to reassign 120 FBI agents in D.C. to nighttime patrol duties. Though D.C.'s unique status allows for more federal oversight, the decision could lead to the expansion of federal control in other jurisdictions.
“This move threatens the foundation of local democracy,” civil liberties attorney Maya Rhodes said. “Federalizing police in a city known for protest sends a chilling message to anyone who would dare to dissent.”
The timeline and scope of the federal control in D.C. remain unclear. The White House has declined to say how long the takeover would last or when local authority might be restored.
“This is not just a D.C. issue,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) said. “This is a warning shot aimed at every Black, brown, and progressive community in this country.”
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott also spoke out against Trump's decision to seize control of D.C.
"This is the latest effort by the president to distract from the issues he should be focused on—including the roller coaster of the US economy thanks to his policies. When it comes to public safety in Baltimore, he should turn off the right-wing propaganda and look at the facts," he said.
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