WASHINGTON, D.C. (WDNews) — President Donald Trump declared a public safety emergency in the nation’s capital on Monday, announcing the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of around 800 National Guard personnel.
Trump said the action was required to reduce crime and reclaim our capital while speaking with Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other senior officials.
Trump signed an executive order putting the city’s police under federal supervision and allowing the employment of National Guard units from other states if necessary, citing Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. He added that more federal law enforcement agents, such as the U.S. Marshals, ATF, DEA, and FBI, will be present on city streets.
Trump’s comments ran counter to new FBI and D.C. government statistics that indicates crime rates had decreased recently. He said that homicides, carjackings, and gangs were out of control and that D.C. was one of the worst cities in the world for violent crime.
Under Trump’s direction, Bondi, who is now in charge of the Metropolitan Police, promised tough prosecutions and reforms to rules like cashless bail, which she and other administration officials blamed for crime. Patel pledged to duplicate previous federal-local task force initiatives in the city.
In order to improve the city’s image, the president also promised to start beautification programs and remove homeless encampments from public areas.
