US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is placing the Washington, DC, police department under federal control. The President added that he is deploying the National Guard in what he described as an effort to “liberate” the nation’s capital from crime and disorder.
Trump framed the move as a decisive step towards making the city safer and addressing homelessness and violent crime. “The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people are over,” he declared on social media ahead of a scheduled news conference.
Trump’s action represents the latest escalation in his law enforcement agenda, following his high-profile push to curb illegal border crossings. It also questions how an emboldened federal government will work with local authorities, particularly in the unique setting of Washington, DC. Notably, the district is a congressionally established federal district without the full autonomy of a state.
Mass federal deployment
About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being deployed across the city, the AP reported. This includes over 100 FBI agents, roughly 40 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the US Marshals Service.
The mobilisation follows Trump’s directive last week ordering federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for at least seven days, with the option to extend “as needed”.
Focus on homelessness
Trump’s weekend posts placed heavy emphasis on removing the city’s homeless population, though he provided few details about relocation plans. “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote on TruthSocial post on Sunday. “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,” Trump posted.
Crime data vs political rhetoric
Trump’s push comes despite police statistics showing crime is trending downward. According to AP, homicides, robberies and burglaries have all fallen compared with the same period in 2024, with overall violent crime down 26% year-over-year.
Still, the president has argued that high-profile incidents like the recent assault of a senior member of the Department of Government Efficiency, illustrate persistent dangers for residents, workers and tourists.