Trump Deploys National Guard, Seizes Control of D.C. Police Amid Contested “Crime Emergency”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has deployed the U.S. National Guard to Washington, D.C., and placed the city’s police force under federal control, a dramatic move he has described as a necessary response to a “crime emergency.”1 The action, taken under a rarely used provision of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, has drawn both praise from allies and sharp criticism from city officials who dispute the administration’s claims about rising crime.2
Federal Crackdown Underway
The first day of the federal law enforcement operation saw significant activity. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that about 850 federal law enforcement officers were deployed on Monday, resulting in 23 arrests overnight.3 The charges ranged from gun and drug crimes, drunk driving, and subway fare evasion, to a homicide warrant.4 According to FBI Director Kash Patel, these arrests included one for a prior murder charge, multiple unlawful firearm possessions, and several DUI warrants.5
Leavitt also confirmed that the U.S. Park Police had removed 70 homeless encampments.6 The administration’s policy, as outlined by Leavitt, gives those displaced the option to go to a homeless shelter or drug treatment program, with refusal potentially leading to fines or jail time.7 The removal of these encampments is part of a broader administration effort to “take our capital back” from what Trump has called “crime, savagery, filth, and scum.”8
A City Divided Over Crime Data
President Trump and his administration have justified the takeover by citing what they call an urgent public safety crisis. However, this narrative is directly contradicted by official city data. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other D.C. officials have consistently pointed out that violent crime and homicide rates have been falling noticeably.9 According to official figures, violent crime is at a 30-year low, and the city’s homicide rate has dropped by approximately 30% from the previous year.10
Despite this, the administration, and some of its supporters, have used specific, high-profile incidents—such as the recent assault on a former White House staffer—to bolster their claims of a city in chaos.11 This has created a significant disconnect between the official statistics and the administration’s stated rationale for the federal intervention.
An “Unsettling and Unprecedented” Partnership
Mayor Muriel Bowser, while expressing her commitment to working with federal officials, has called Trump’s move “unsettling and unprecedented.”12 She stated that her administration’s ability to push back is limited due to D.C.’s unique legal status, which gives the federal government more authority over the capital than over U.S. states.13 However, she was firm in her assertion that the police chief, Pamela Smith, remains in charge of the department’s day-to-day operations and officers.14
The tone from city officials has shifted from initial defiance to a more pragmatic, if reluctant, cooperation. Bowser’s meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi was described by Bondi on social media as “productive.”15 The police union head, Gregg Pemberton, has supported the intervention, calling it a “critical stopgap” and stating that “crime is out of control.”16
Legal and Political Ramifications
The legal authority for Trump’s takeover stems from a specific section of the 1973 Home Rule Act, which allows the president to take control of the D.C. police for up to 30 days.17 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested the deployment could last longer as they “reevaluate and reassess” the situation. Any extension beyond 30 days, however, would require congressional approval, a step that would likely face strong resistance from Democrats.
The situation has also ignited a renewed debate about D.C. statehood. Mayor Bowser and others have argued that if D.C. were a state, such a federal takeover would not be possible, and the city would have full autonomy over its own law enforcement and National Guard.
As the federal presence grows, the city remains under a watchful eye. The effectiveness of the crackdown and the long-term implications of this federal intervention on D.C.’s autonomy and community relations remain to be seen.