President Donald Trump has announced plans to deploy approximately 800 National Guard troops to the nation’s capital as part of a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), citing a need to combat crime and restore order.
In a statement at the White House, Trump described the move as “a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam, and squalor.” He emphasized that the federal government will assume direct control over the MPD to carry out the initiative.
However, official law enforcement statistics paint a different picture. Data from the FBI, MPD, and the Department of Justice (DOJ) show that overall violent crime in Washington, D.C., has significantly decreased over the past year. According to DOJ figures released in January, violent crime in 2024 fell to its lowest level in 30 years, down 35% from 2023. Specific categories of crime showed notable declines:
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Homicides: down 32%
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Robberies: down 39%
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Armed carjackings: down 53%
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Assaults with a dangerous weapon: down 27%
Despite these statistics, Trump and senior officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, insist that crime and violence in the city are rising. The president also announced plans to address homelessness in the district, stating on his Truth Social account: “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.”
The administration’s crackdown could extend beyond Washington. Trump indicated he is considering similar actions in other major cities, including New York City, Baltimore, Chicago, and Oakland, California, though he provided no details on potential timelines or scope.
This federal intervention in Washington marks one of the most direct assertions of presidential authority over a local police force in recent history, setting the stage for potential legal and political challenges.
