The White House has ordered a sharp increase in federal law enforcement across the capital, citing persistent concerns over violent crime. The deployment, announced yesterday, will last at least a week and is part of President Donald Trump’s “Making DC Safe and Beautiful” executive order.
“Washington, DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens.”
The operation draws on multiple agencies — including the U.S. Park Police, U.S. Capitol Police, and Homeland Security Investigations — and will focus on tourist-heavy areas and other high-priority locations. Leavitt said there would be “no safe harbor for violent criminals in DC,” underscoring the administration’s intent to confront crime with a visible and coordinated federal presence.
The move follows an alleged attack on a federal employee from the Department of Government Efficiency, an incident that has intensified calls for stronger security. It also reflects Trump’s broader push for greater federal authority over Washington, D.C. “We have a capital that’s very unsafe,” Trump told reporters earlier this week. “We have to run DC.”
Rolling back the city’s home rule would require Congress to repeal the 1973 law granting limited self-governance — a step likely to face fierce resistance from local leaders and many lawmakers. According to the Associated Press, Trump’s legal team is reviewing options to expand federal oversight of the city’s operations.
The heightened law enforcement presence will be reassessed after the initial seven-day period, with the potential for extension. Beyond addressing immediate public safety concerns, the initiative has reignited debate over the balance of power between federal control and local autonomy in the nation’s capital.
