In a major escalation of his crime agenda, President Donald Trump announced Monday that the federal government will take temporary control of Washington, D.C.’s police department and deploy the National Guard to patrol the city.
Calling the move a “liberation day” for the nation’s capital, Trump said the crackdown is aimed at reducing violent crime and restoring order. Under the 1973 Home Rule Act, the president can assume emergency control of the Metropolitan Police Department for 30 days, with congressional approval needed for an extension.
Trump said the department will be overseen by the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration under the supervision of Attorney General Pam Bondi. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said National Guard members from D.C. and other states will begin deploying this week to support law enforcement, with authority to temporarily detain suspects if necessary.
The president cited several recent high-profile crimes to justify the action and criticized local crime statistics as misleading. He also pledged to remove homeless encampments, address vandalism, and push federal legislation to expand the use of cash bail.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the city would comply, though she described the takeover as “unsettling and unprecedented.” Police leadership signaled willingness to coordinate with federal authorities.
Trump warned that other major cities, including New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, could face similar action if crime rates do not improve.
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