President Trump Orders Federal Takeover of Washington, D.C. Police and Deploys National Guard

President Donald Trump announced plans to federalize law enforcement in Washington, DC, including the deployment of 800 National Guard troops. Three Republican-led states are sending National Guard troops to DC as part of an expanded crackdown. Since their arrival, members of the National Guard have been posted near landmarks and standing next to armored vehicles. The government has also announced arrests this week, many of which are related to immigration offenses.

On the 15th local time, Washington, D.C. filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's decision for the federal government to take over the Washington Metropolitan Police Department. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced that he has filed the lawsuit and is seeking an emergency restraining order. Schwalb stated that the Trump administration's actions far exceeded the president's legal authority and described the move as both an insult to the dignity and autonomy of the district's 700,000 residents and the most severe threat to the district's local governance in history.

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that he is temporarily placing the Washington, D.C., police force under federal control and deploying the National Guard into the city. The move follows a weeklong federal law enforcement crackdown in the nation’s capital. Trump stated during a morning news conference at the White House, “We’re not gonna lose our cities over this. And this will go further.”

The president’s actions come in response to concerns about crime in D.C., which intensified after the assault of a former Department of Government Ethics (DOGE) staffer. Trump’s takeover of the city’s police represents a significant escalation of federal authority over local law enforcement — a measure rarely used in the United States. He indicated that similar measures might be considered for other Democratic-led cities, even though recent data shows crime rates have been falling in several of these locations.

Under the plan, federal control will override local policing authority in the District of Columbia, and National Guard units will work in coordination with federal agencies to enforce law and order. Trump has targeted other cities, including Oakland, Chicago, Baltimore, and New York, citing concerns about crime policies such as Chicago’s no cash bail system, despite official statistics showing overall crime reductions in these cities.

The announcement signals Trump’s intention to test the boundaries of presidential powers in directing and managing local law enforcement, with the stated aim of “ending the Crime, Murder, and Death in our Nation’s Capital.” The federal control in D.C. was enacted immediately following his statement.

On August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump announced that he is placing the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control. Speaking from the White House, Trump stated, "We're taking it back. Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I'm officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act ... and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control."

The invocation of Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act — a law enacted in 1973 granting D.C. residents the ability to elect local officials while retaining congressional oversight — allows the federal government to assume command of the local police force. This control automatically expires in 30 days unless both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approve an extension.

Trump’s stated rationale for the move is to crack down on violent crime in the District, despite police statistics showing a dramatic decline in violent crime over the past two years.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser responded that the city will comply with the president’s directive, but described the decision as “unsettling and unprecedented.” She reiterated her advocacy for D.C. statehood, arguing that the action underscored the need for the District to make its own decisions. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith confirmed the department will coordinate with federal partners, as it has in past collaborations.

The D.C. Home Rule Act also allows Congress to review all D.C. legislation before it becomes law, grants the president authority to appoint D.C. judges, and provides D.C. with no voting representation in Congress.

On Sunday night in Washington, D.C., scores of federal agents were deployed across the city following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a crackdown on crime and homelessness in the U.S. capital. Trump issued the directive on his social media platform Truth Social, stating, "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital." He also warned, "Be Prepared! There will be no Mr. Nice Guy. We want our Capital BACK."

The deployment included agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal law enforcement bodies. At least 120 FBI agents were reassigned from other duties for the patrols. These agents were visible in areas such as the Navy Yard and Nationals Stadium, conducting foot patrols in small groups.

The action was intended as both a law enforcement measure and a show of force. In another post, Trump scheduled a press conference for 10 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday to discuss "ending the Crime, Murder, and Death in our Nations Capital."

Despite Trump describing crime in D.C. as out of control, U.S. Justice Department data indicates that violent crime in the city had fallen to a 30-year low in 2024. The immediate results of the deployment appeared limited. In one incident, a minor traffic collision between a car and a moped attracted around two dozen agents, some wearing masks, with one carrying a rifle, alongside D.C. Metropolitan Police.

The presence of armed, uniformed federal officers surprised some locals and tourists, who were out enjoying the city. Meanwhile, homeless residents expressed concern over Trump’s directive to remove them from central areas, fearing displacement.

On an unspecified date, former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered homeless individuals he encountered while traveling to a golf course to leave Washington, DC. According to reports, Trump expressed his intention to clear the city of homeless encampments and vowed to proceed with evictions. Officials stated that the deployment of the National Guard is being considered as part of the effort.

In connection with these developments, 450 federal officers have been deployed to patrol the streets of Washington, DC ahead of a forthcoming announcement from Trump. The plan involves increasing law enforcement presence in targeted areas, with coordination among federal agencies to monitor and address the situation.

A government official confirmed that discussions are underway regarding the logistics of removing the homeless population from public spaces in the capital. Exact timelines, methods of enforcement, and relocation plans for the displaced individuals have not been publicly detailed.

The announcement and planned measures come amid heightened political activity around Trump’s visit and engagements in Washington, DC.

President Donald Trump has directed that homeless individuals in Washington, D.C., particularly those he observed while en route to a golf course, be removed from the city. This move is part of a broader law enforcement initiative, which includes deploying approximately 450 federal agents to patrol D.C. overnight, with the possibility of adding up to 1,000 National Guard troops. The President has described crime in the capital as 'out of control,' with his instructions on the homeless issue delivered with immediate urgency. The plan comes amid discussions about a potential federal takeover of the city's policing efforts.

President Donald Trump has directed multiple federal law enforcement agencies to operate in Washington, D.C., as he considers potential next steps that could include federalizing the city’s police force. The move comes amid his repeated claims that crime in the District is “out of control.”

On the day of the announcement, Trump signaled during public remarks and social media posts that he would hold a major press conference to address the situation, further hinting at a possible federal takeover of the city’s law enforcement responsibilities. He emphasized that he was dissatisfied with current crime levels and indicated that federal resources were already being mobilized.

Federal agencies tapped for operations in Washington include units from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and other law enforcement bodies. Their purpose is to bolster public safety efforts and conduct policing activities in the nation’s capital. The President’s actions mark a significant intervention in local law enforcement affairs, as Washington, D.C., operates under a unique legal status giving the federal government greater oversight authority compared to U.S. states.

While Trump did not provide an exact date for the press conference, he suggested it would address what he described as record crime levels and outline his administration’s plan for restoring order in the District. The announcement has heightened political and public attention on the city’s crime statistics and governance, particularly regarding the balance between local autonomy and federal authority.

On Monday, President Donald Trump announced that he has ordered an increase in the presence of federal law enforcement in Washington, D.C., in response to what he described as a violent crime surge in the city. The decision follows an incident involving the assault of a staff member from the Department of Government Ethics (DOGE), which prompted Trump to threaten a potential federal takeover of the city’s policing.

Trump stated that the increased federal resources would begin deploying Thursday night. The plan involves tapping federal law enforcement agencies to support local efforts, with more than 120 federal officers assigned to patrol high-traffic areas of Washington, D.C. The President emphasized that the move was intended to “stop violent crime” in the nation’s capital.

According to the White House, multiple federal agencies will coordinate to implement the plan, ensuring a visible law enforcement presence particularly in areas with significant pedestrian and vehicle activity. No specific duration for the deployment was disclosed, and it remains unclear whether further escalation toward a full federal control of policing in D.C. will be pursued.

Trump has publicly criticized the city’s handling of crime and suggested that federal intervention is necessary to restore safety. "We’re not going to let our capital fall into lawlessness," he remarked, signaling his readiness to leverage federal powers if crime trends do not improve.

On Monday, August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump announced an emergency federal takeover of the Washington, D.C., police department and ordered the deployment of 800 National Guard troops into the city. He declared a "crime emergency" in the U.S. capital during a news conference in the White House Briefing Room, describing the city as overtaken by "violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people." Trump stated the purpose was to "end the Crime, Murder, and Death in our Nation’s Capital."

The move resulted in an increased federal law enforcement presence, with U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents patrolling areas such as Constitution Avenue near the Washington Monument. The takeover was framed by the president as part of a broader effort to address what he depicted as an out-of-control crime situation.

However, data from the District of Columbia contradicted Trump’s characterization, showing declines in carjackings, gun crimes, and homicides over the past two years. Mayor Muriel Bowser reported that violent crime levels were at 30-year lows. Despite this, the administration proceeded with the federalization of the police force and deployment of federal agency personnel alongside the National Guard.

Members of the National Capital Region congressional delegation, all Democrats, criticized the decision, warning of authoritarian tendencies and describing it as a potential "soft launch of authoritarianism." Protests occurred in D.C. following the announcement. The action follows previous deployments by Trump of active-duty troops to the southern U.S. border and National Guard troops with U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during unrest over immigration raids.

The announcement also indicated that similar actions could be extended to other cities targeted by the administration. Key questions remain about how the enhanced federal control will be implemented across the District.