President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is taking direct control of Washington D.C.’s police department and sending in National Guard troops. He says the goal is to address what he describes as an “out-of-control” crime problem in the U.S. capital.
Speaking from the White House, Trump called it “Liberation Day in D.C.” and said it was time to “take our capital back.” He also stated that people experiencing homelessness in the city would need to leave the streets immediately, promising that alternative housing would be provided—but far from the city center.
Trump used his authority under Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act, a law that allows the president to temporarily take over the city’s police force in emergency situations. This special control can last for up to 30 days unless Congress approves an extension. He also said that U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will be in charge of the Metropolitan Police Department during this period.
The president has compared D.C.’s crime levels to some of the most dangerous places in the world, pointing to incidents of robbery, car theft, and violent attacks. However, official data tells a different story. According to the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Department of Justice, violent crime in D.C. hit a 30-year low last year and has dropped even further in 2024, with double-digit decreases in homicides, assaults, and robberies so far this year.
Local leaders are pushing back. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalbe called Trump’s move “unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful” and says there is no crime emergency. He argued that crime rates are falling, not rising, and that his office will explore legal options to challenge the action. Mayor Muriel Bowser also rejected Trump’s portrayal of the city, saying that people are moving to D.C., starting businesses, and raising families there.
Despite the statistics, the federal law enforcement presence in D.C. has been growing in recent days. Trump has also hinted at bringing in additional military forces if he believes they are needed to restore “law and order.”
This decision follows an incident earlier this month in which one of Trump’s former staffers was reportedly assaulted in the city—something that seems to have fueled the president’s renewed focus on crime in the capital.