President Trump Takes Over Washington’s Police Department
President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is taking over Washington’s police department and activating 800 members of the National Guard in an effort to reduce crime in the nation’s capital. This move comes despite city officials stating that crime is already decreasing in Washington.
The president, accompanied by his attorney general, defense secretary, and FBI director, declared a public safety emergency and stated that his administration would be removing homeless encampments. Trump said, “We’re going to take our capital back,” and added that he would also be “getting rid of the slums.”
This effort to take over public safety in Washington is a next step in Trump’s law enforcement agenda, following his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. The District of Columbia’s status as a congressionally established federal district gives him a unique opportunity to push his tough-on-crime agenda, although he has not proposed solutions to the root causes of homelessness and crime.
Concerns and Controversy
The move raises fundamental questions about how an increasingly emboldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts. Attorney General Pam Bondi will assume responsibility for Washington’s metro police department, according to Trump. However, the president did not provide a timeline for the control of the police department, which is limited to 30 days under statute.
As Trump spoke, demonstrators gathered outside the White House to protest his moves, and local officials rejected the Republican president’s depiction of the district as crime-ridden, calling his actions illegal. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb said, “The administration’s actions are unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful. There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia.”
Protesters demonstrate against President Donald Trump’s planned use of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in Washington, during a rally in front of the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP
Combating Crime
The president dismissed the idea that Washington needs to enlarge its 3,500-officer police force, even as he seeks to have more armed personnel going through the city with the goal of reducing crime. Trump said, “What you need is rules and regulations, and you need the right people to implement them.”
Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act in an executive order to declare a “crime emergency” so his administration could take over the city’s police force. He signed a directive for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to activate the National Guard.
The National Guard
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has previously questioned the effectiveness of using the National Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more prosecutors or filling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years. Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks as Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith, left, and D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly, listen during a news conference on President Donald Trump’s plan to place Washington police under federal control and deploy National guard troops to Washington, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson / AP
Focusing on Homelessness
Trump has emphasized the removal of Washington’s homeless population, although it is unclear where the thousands of people would go, and he did not provide details at his news conference on Monday. Trump wrote on social media, “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don’t have to move out. We’re going to put you in jail where you belong.”
Crime Statistics
Police statistics show that homicides, robberies, and burglaries are down this year compared to the same time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared to the same time last year. The president has criticized the district as full of “tents, squalor, filth, and Crime,” and he seems to have been set off by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible figures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE.
Trump said, “This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country.” He called Bowser “a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances.” Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities, which would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress.
Conclusion
In conclusion, President Trump’s decision to take over Washington’s police department and activate the National Guard has raised concerns and controversy among local officials and residents. While the president claims that his actions are necessary to reduce crime, others argue that his actions are unlawful and unnecessary. The situation is complex, and it remains to be seen how the federal government’s actions will impact the city and its residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is President Trump taking over Washington’s police department?
A: President
