Federal authorities take command over law enforcement in Washington D.C., according to Trump's announcement
President Donald Trump initiated a crime emergency crackdown in Washington, D.C. on August 7, 2025, citing a surge in violent crime that endangered federal workers, citizens, and tourists, and impaired government functions.
The operation, which has been ongoing for two weeks, has seen the deployment of National Guard troops and federal agents to take control of policing in the city. According to White House reports, there have been 465 arrests since the crackdown began, with nearly half of all non-immigration-related arrests concentrated in the highest-crime wards 7 and 8—areas known for violent crime, including homicides and assaults with weapons.
The crackdown notably targeted gang members, gun-related offenses, narcotics charges, DUIs, and assaults. By mid-August, 212 arrests excluding immigration violations were recorded, underscoring significant enforcement focus on high-crime neighborhoods.
Trump framed the operation as necessary to restore security and normalcy, emphasizing that it allowed residents and federal employees to feel safe again and that local restaurants experienced increased business, a marker of improved public safety. He rejected criticism claiming the crackdown was authoritarian, asserting it was about securing the capital for all people and functional governance.
The legal basis for the operation is Section 740 of the Home Rule Act, which temporarily overrides local D.C. police authority, allowing the federal government and National Guard forces to assume control over public safety during this crisis. This federal takeover of policing is unprecedented in modern D.C. history and has been a subject of controversy.
In recent days, Trump has renewed his threats to take federal control of Washington, D.C., and announced "beautification" efforts in the city. However, it's important to note that crime in Washington, D.C., reached a 30-year low this year, contrary to Trump's claims of "crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor" in the city.
This federal intervention has put Trump at odds with Democrats who control the city's local government. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser suggested local authorities would cooperate with the federal crackdown. The Secret Service has also been ordered to conduct "special patrols" in Washington, D.C., while FBI officials have been sent for patrols overnight on Sunday.
Forbes published an article titled "FBI Patrols Reportedly Deployed In D.C. As Trump Says Homeless Must Leave 'Immediately'-What We Know", suggesting that the National Guard troops Trump may deploy to Washington, D.C., are not expected to have arrest power. It's unclear at this time how these developments will unfold in the coming weeks.
References: 1. White House Press Release 2. Forbes Article 3. CNN Article
In the ongoing crime emergency in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump's policy-and-legislation crackdown has resulted in 465 arrests, with a significant focus on high-crime neighborhoods, as reported in the White House Press Release. The federal takeover of policing, primarily led by the National Guard and federal agents, has been controversial, as demonstrated by the dissenting views of Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser and the renewed threats from Trump, as stated in the Forbes Article.
