President Trump on Monday announced he was taking federal control of the Washington, D.C., police department and deploying the National Guard in the nation’s capital in an effort to crack down on crime.
“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people, and we’re not going ot let it happen anymore. We’re not going to take it,” Trump said.
Under the Home Rule Act, Trump can temporarily take control of the district’s police department if he determines “special conditions of an emergency nature exist.” The president announced Monday he was declaring a public safety emergency in the District.
Trump also has the authority to activate the D.C. National Guard without local approval, though he is restricted in certain other actions by the Home Rule Act, which grants various powers to the local government of the District. National Guard troops will not be able to make arrests, but will support local and federal law enforcement.
Trump said he was tapping Terry Cole, the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), to serve as the federal government’s leader of the Metropolitan Police Department. Cole was sworn in as DEA commissioner in July.
Trump must provide written notification to Congress within 48 hours outlining his rationale for taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department. The president can unilaterally control the department for up to 30 days, but Congress must approve any extension.
It was not clear if the White House had coordinated its actions with local D.C. officials. A spokesperson for Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office declined to comment just before Trump began speaking.
Crime in D.C. was down 35 percent in 2024 from the previous year, marking a 30-year low. Data from the district shows violent crime is also down so far in 2025 compared with the previous year. Trump turned his attention on the city when a former member of DOGE was attacked during a car jacking in the city earlier this month.
Trump, who addressed reporters from the White House briefing room, cast doubt on those numbers. White House officials have cited reports of a D.C. police commander who was placed on leave over allegations he changed crime statistics.
The president pointed to a series of high-profile crimes involving individuals with ties to government, including an incident earlier this month in which Edward Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer knows by the nickname “Big Balls,” was attacked.
Trump also pointed to the death of Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern in the office of Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas), who was killed in July.
“It’s becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness,” Trump said.
Trump was joined for Monday’s announcement by Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro.
The White House has in recent days surged federal law enforcement around the District as part of a crackdown on crime. Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, Secret Service and other agencies were deployed around the city.
The president also said he would push to remove homeless encampments from around the capital.
“Washington, D.C., should be one of the safest, cleanest and most beautiful cities anywhere in the world. And we’re going to make it that,” Trump said.
Updating 11:03 a.m.
