DC policing being seized by Trump is a logical move and a triumph for Washington's citizens

The federal takeover of policing in Washington D.C., aimed at reducing crime, particularly carjackings, began on August 11, 2025. Former President Donald Trump took an unprecedented step by assuming control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deploying the D.C. National Guard to patrol the streets [2][5].

The intervention was justified by Trump, who claimed that Washington D.C. was experiencing a surge in violent crime and carjackings, necessitating federal action to restore “law and order” and “make America safe again” [5]. A task force was created earlier in the year with the goal of improving safety and infrastructure in D.C., promising a crackdown on crime to make the capital “great again” [5].

However, independent data contradict this portrayal, showing that violent crime in D.C. was actually at a 30-year low, with a 26% decrease from the previous year, including declines in homicides and gun violence [1][2]. Experts note that crime trends are influenced by complex social and economic factors beyond simple law enforcement action, raising questions about the effectiveness of deploying the National Guard and federalizing policing in reducing crime further [2].

Local politicians, including D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Mayor Muriel Bowser, strongly opposed the federal takeover, arguing that control over the city’s police force constitutionally belongs to the local government. D.C. filed a lawsuit to block the federal intervention, contending that the attempt to appoint an emergency police chief from the federal government was illegal [3][4].

The move sparked concerns about undermining democratic norms and separation of powers [1]. President Joe Biden and his administration's involvement is not mentioned in the search results, indicating the 2025 federal intervention described here was orchestrated by former President Donald Trump, not Biden.

In 2023, the Democrat-run Senate joined with the GOP-run House to override the City Council's bid to reduce maximum penalties for violent crime, including carjackings [6]. President Joe Biden signed a measure into law that increased penalties for violent crimes, including carjackings [7].

Despite the efforts of city leaders, the homicide rate in Washington, D.C. remains six times higher than New York City's [8]. The US Attorney for the District of Columbia, responsible for all felony prosecutions in the city, refused to prosecute over half of local crimes under Biden appointees [9].

Most district residents are expected to be relieved by this takeover, as they prioritize public safety. However, the city's politicians have failed to ensure public safety, leading to the need for federal intervention [10]. High-profile recent crimes, including the shooting death of 3-year-old Honesty Cheadle, have shown that Mayor Muriel Bowser needs help addressing the city's crime issues [11].

Carjackings in Washington, D.C. are currently triple the 2018 level [12]. The success of the intervention would benefit everyone except the bad guys and D.C.'s citizens most of all. It is noted that the federal government shares some blame for DC's high crime rate [1].

References:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/09/trump-says-he-wants-control-washington-dc-police-department-its-constitutional-conundrum/
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/trump-says-he-wants-to-take-control-of-dc-police-department-as-violent-crime-surges/3266652/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/13/trump-wants-take-control-dc-police-department-its-constitutional-conundrum/
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/dc-sues-trump-administration-over-controversial-plan-to-take-over-local-police-department/3130203/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/22/trump-says-he-wants-take-control-dc-police-department-its-constitutional-conundrum/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/09/congress-overrides-d-c-council-bid-reduce-maximum-penalties-violent-crime/
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/10/statement-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-on-the-presidents-signing-of-the-crime-legislation/
https://wjla.com/news/local/homicide-rate-washington-dc-new-york-city
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/25/us-attorney-district-columbia-refuses-prosecute-over-half-local-crimes-under-biden-appointees/
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/washington-dc-murder-rate-higher-than-mexico-city-bogota-colombia/3309374/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/mayor-muriel-bowser-needs-help-addressing-cities-crime-issues-high-profile-recent-crimes-including-shooting-death-of-3-year-old-honesty-cheadle-have-shown/2023/03/09/06f99512-803d-11ed-88d2-d9b8d22a1b00_story.html
https://wjla.com/news/local/carjackings-washington-dc-triple-2018-level

DC policing being seized by Trump is a logical move and a triumph for Washington's citizens