Trump deploys National Guard in DC, takes over DC Police

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Monday he is federalizing the District of Columbia’s police force and deploying the National Guard  to patrol city streets, marking the most dramatic federal intervention in local law enforcement in decades.

Declaring what he called “Liberation Day in DC,” Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control for up to 30 days. The action comes despite D.C. police data showing violent crime has dropped 26% compared to last year.

“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs, and homeless people,” Trump said at a packed White House press conference. “And we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”

Under the emergency declaration, Attorney General Pam Bondi will serve as interim commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department. Trump also announced the deployment of 800 National Guard troops alongside 500 federal agents from agencies including the FBI, ATF, DEA, Park Police, U.S. Marshal Service, Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security.

The National Guard deployment marks the first time federal troops have patrolled D.C. streets since Jan. 6, 2021, when they arrived hours after the Capitol riots began. Prior to that, Guard units were deployed during Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he is prepared to bring in additional military personnel if necessary. Federal agents began patrolling D.C. streets Friday morning, with video surfacing of DEA agents walking along the National Mall over the weekend.

Watch President Trump’s full news conference below:

Trump’s justification for the federal intervention centers on claims that D.C.’s murder rate exceeds that of international capitals including Bogotá, Colombia; Mexico City; and Islamabad. He cited a murder rate of 41 per 100,000 people, calling it the highest “anywhere in the world.”

However, current D.C. police data contradicts the administration’s dire assessment. According to Metropolitan Police Department statistics, violent crime is down 26% from this point last year, overall crime has decreased 7%, and homicides have dropped 12%. This continues a trend from 2024, which saw violent crime decrease 35% from 2023.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told MSNBC over the weekend that crime is at “historic lows.” The mayor’s office has not responded to requests for comment beyond those remarks.

Trump questioned the reliability of the District’s crime statistics, alleging that a city official recently quit because he was asked to manipulate numbers to make them appear better than reality. He said Bondi would investigate these claims.

The president pointed to several violent crimes affecting government personnel as evidence of the capital’s deteriorating safety. These include the recent assault of a Department of Government Efficiency staffer who was beaten while defending a woman from a carjacking, suffering a broken nose and concussion.

Trump also cited the 2024 murder of former administration official Mike Gill, who was killed in a carjacking near the White House while waiting for his wife, and the 2023 stabbing of a Senate aide who worked for Sen. Rand Paul. In June, a 21-year-old congressional intern was killed by a stray bullet in a drive-by shooting.

“A 3-year-old girl was shot in the head and killed while sitting in a car near the Capitol” during July 4th weekend, Trump said, describing the situation as “complete and total lawlessness.”

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro criticized the District’s prosecution of juvenile offenders, specifically calling out D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s office.

“These kids understand that the jurisdiction is through the state Attorney General Brian Schwalb,” Pirro said. “I did a poster of the young man from DOGE who was beaten bloody with a severe concussion and broken nose and then I did a poster of what happens to those kids because I can’t arrest them, I can’t prosecute them. They go to family court and they get to do yoga, and arts and crafts. Enough. It changes today.”

Trump claimed that in 2022, nearly 70% of criminals arrested in Washington went unprosecuted.

In response, a spokesperson from the attorney general’s office pointed to prosecution data showing the office handled over 90% of homicide and attempted homicide cases last year, along with 87% of carjacking cases, 86% of gun possession cases, 79% of robbery cases and 88% of violent assault cases.

Attorney General Schwalb posted on social media that “the administration’s actions are unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents.”

Trump announced plans to eliminate the District’s no-cash bail policies, which he blamed for much of the crime problem. He said he would work with Republicans in Congress to change federal statutes, expecting no Democratic support.

“Some murders somebody and they’re out on no cash bail before the day is out,” Trump said. “We’re gonna end that.”

The administration also plans to eliminate Washington’s sanctuary city status and address homeless encampments, with federal agencies already beginning to clear tents from streets.

Beyond law enforcement, Trump announced beautification efforts including removing graffiti, fixing potholes, and replacing deteriorating road medians. “Not only are we stopping the crime but we’re going to clean up the trash and the graffiti and the dirt and the broken marble panels,” he said.

Trump indicated this D.C. action would serve as a model for addressing crime in other cities, specifically mentioning Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore and Oakland. He said he may extend National Guard deployments to other cities experiencing high crime rates.

The president acknowledged the unprecedented nature of his actions, calling it embarrassing to discuss D.C.’s safety problems ahead of his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.

The federal takeover can last up to 30 days under the Home Rule Act, though Trump said he would seek congressional extension through Republican support if necessary. The dramatic intervention represents the most significant federal assumption of local police powers in modern history.