Federal authority takes control over local law enforcement in Washington, with the National Guard being mobilized by Trump
In an unprecedented move, President Donald Trump has announced a federal takeover of public safety efforts in Washington, D.C. The initiative aims to combat violence and crime in the city, with a focus on deploying federal law enforcement and National Guard forces to patrol the streets.
Trump declared a public safety emergency and invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to justify this action. He has pledged to keep the federal forces in Washington for an extended period to ensure the city's safety and order.
The President has been seen accompanying patrols in the city, showing a personal involvement in the effort. The Metropolitan Police Department has acknowledged no recent homicides, a statistic linked to this federal intervention. More than 630 arrests and 86 illegal guns seized have been reported during this initiative.
The Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been directed to activate the National Guard, with more than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives being assigned to patrols in Washington. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Marshals Service are also contributing officers in Trump's effort to combat crime.
Trump has emphasised the removal of Washington's homeless population, but it remains unclear where the thousands of people would go. He has suggested the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities, requiring a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has indicated that Trump's actions are a reason why the District of Columbia should be a state with legal protections from such actions. Bowser stated that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023 and that none of those conditions exist in Washington right now, as the city is not experiencing a spike in crime, and crime numbers are going down.
Attorney General Pam Bondi will assume responsibility for Washington's Metropolitan Police Department, according to Trump. Bowser acknowledged the law allows the president to take more control over the city's police, but only if certain conditions are met.
Trump has also announced plans to seek congressional funds for infrastructure improvements like repaving and graffiti removal in D.C., emphasising a broad effort to "clean up" and secure the city.
This federal takeover reflects a departure from traditional local control over D.C. policing, with the National Guard supplementing or backing police forces to maintain order and reduce crime during this period. While not detailed explicitly in the sources, the move implies that the National Guard supports or executes patrols and security operations under federal authority, not just state or local jurisdiction.
[1] The Washington Post, "Trump declares public safety emergency in D.C., plans to remove homeless encampments," 2025. [2] CNN, "Trump takes over Washington's police department, activates National Guard," 2025.
- The federal takeover of public safety efforts in Washington, D.C., initiated by President Trump, involves policy and legislation changes, as evidenced by his invocation of Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act.
- With the focus on combating war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and general-news issues in the city, Donald Trump has mobilized federal law enforcement, the National Guard, and multiple federal agencies like the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Marshals Service.
- As a result of the federal intervention, car-accidents, a seemingly independent category of incidents in the city, are now potentially subject to new policies and regulations due to the broader presence of federal forces on Washington's streets.
