On August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a historic and controversial decision to federalize the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deploy 800 National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, citing a “public safety emergency.” The move, described as a response to what Trump called rampant crime, has sparked intense debate, with local officials and critics pointing to data showing declining crime rates. This marks the first time a U.S. president has invoked emergency powers under Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act to take control of the city’s police force.
Trump, speaking at a White House press conference, declared the action “Liberation Day” for D.C., asserting that the city had been plagued by “crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor.” He signed two executive orders: one invoking the Home Rule Act to place the MPD under federal control, with Attorney General Pam Bondi taking command, and another directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize the National Guard. Hegseth stated that troops would begin “flowing into the streets” within days, focusing on administrative, logistical, and visible support roles alongside federal agencies like the FBI, ATF, and ICE. Up to 120 FBI agents have already been deployed to D.C. streets, with numbers expected to rise over the next 30 days.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council, who called it “unsettling,” “unprecedented,” and “unwarranted.” Bowser noted that violent crime in D.C. has dropped 26% in 2025 compared to 2024 and 35% from 2023, reaching a 30-year low. Homicides, specifically, fell from 274 in 2023 to 187 in 2024, with 100 reported year-to-date in 2025 as of August 11. Critics, including D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalbe and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, argue that the federalization lacks justification and threatens local autonomy. Schwalbe called the move “unlawful,” signaling potential legal challenges, while Norton labeled it an “assault on D.C. home rule.”
Trump justified the takeover by pointing to incidents like the August 3, 2025, assault on Edward Coristine, a Department of Government Efficiency staffer, during an attempted carjacking. He also referenced broader plans to address homelessness and “cleanliness” in D.C., including relocating homeless individuals “far from the capital.” The administration has suggested that other cities, such as New York, Baltimore, and Oakland, could face similar federal interventions.
Under the Home Rule Act, Trump’s control of the MPD is limited to 30 days unless Congress extends it, a move that faces skepticism in a divided legislature. Democrats, including Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, have condemned the action, with some proposing legislation to repeal the president’s authority over D.C.’s police. The deployment of the National Guard, authorized under Title 32, raises concerns about potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement.
As National Guard troops arrive at D.C.’s armory and federal agents patrol the streets, the city braces for a tense period. Protests outside the White House have already begun, reflecting public unease. While Trump frames the takeover as a step to “make our capital great again,” opponents warn of a dangerous precedent for federal overreach and the erosion of local governance in a city without statehood. The coming weeks will likely see legal battles and heightened political friction as D.C. navigates this unprecedented federal intervention.
SOURCES:
Fact check: Violent crime in DC has fallen in 2024 and 2025 after a 2023 spike | CNN Politics
District Crime Data at a Glance | mpdc
Homicide Rate in Washington DC 2025 | Stats & Facts About DC Homicide – The Global Statistics
Fact Check: Crime statistics in washington, dc 2025
Live updates: Trump announces federal takeover of D.C. police – NBC4 Washington
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