Trump-led White House unveils reality show exposing vulnerable cities' inner workings and power dynamics.
Washington D.C. undergoes significant changes as the Trump Administration takes action to enhance public safety and order in the capital.
In 2025, President Trump returned to Washington and criticized the city's state, promising a federal takeover to clean up, renovate, and rebuild the capital. This promise led to the creation of the "Task Force for a Safe and Beautiful City," an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime, removing homeless encampments, restoring order, and improving the city's infrastructure [1][2][3][5].
The task force involves multi-agency cooperation, with National Guard troops assisting in law enforcement roles but not directly arresting; rather, they detain individuals before transferring them to police [2]. Since early August, over 465 arrests have been made, and 48 homeless encampments have been cleared [2].
The operation has been justified as a response to an alleged increase in violent crime in the capital. However, some analysts argue that the White House is constructing a false narrative about escalating and uncontrolled crime in Washington, D.C., to justify taking control of the capital's security [6]. CNN's analysis reveals that Washington is not as dangerous as it was in the 90s, with abandoned houses no longer serving as open drug dens in close proximity to the Capitol [6].
The move has sparked controversy, with concerns about overreach and the militarization of the capital. Deployment of large numbers of National Guard troops from outside states, many unarmed but in visible roles, signals a heightened federal control approach uncommon in D.C.’s history [4]. Some critics argue that this approach may infringe on D.C.’s self-governance rights, and there are questions about the long-term timeline and implications for civil liberties [4].
Taking full control of the capital would necessitate Congress to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act, which grants D.C. residents the right to elect their own mayor and city council [7]. Monica Hopkins of the ACLU of the District of Columbia stated that the Home Rule Act is unique to D.C., and not applicable to other autonomous communities [7].
President Trump has suggested taking full control of the local police department if authorities do not contain crime [8][9]. Last Friday, 120 federal agents from the Secret Service, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service were mobilized in Washington, D.C., as part of a police deployment [8]. The White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, declared that the operation is the first step to stop the violent crime that plagues the streets [8].
References:
- ABC News
- CNN
- The Washington Post
- The New York Times
- The Hill
- CNN Analysis
- The Hill
- CBS News
- NPR
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