Trump Takes Federal Control Over DC Police, Deploys National Guard Amid Crime Claims

President Donald Trump has asserted federal control over the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under the D.C. Home Rule Act, appointing DEA administrator Terry Cole to lead the force and deploying National Guard troops to address crime in the capital. Despite official data showing crime rates in D.C. are at a 30-year low and declining further in 2025, Trump claims crime is "totally out of control" and has urged police to use force aggressively against suspects. He has also threatened to forcibly remove homeless populations from the city, promising they will be relocated away from the capital and pledging a crackdown with no tolerance for criminals. These actions and statements have drawn criticism from local leaders and nonprofits, which argue that the president lacks legal authority to evict homeless individuals and that crime in D.C. does not warrant such measures. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and organizations like the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless have pushed back against Trump's portrayal of the city and warned against federal overreach. The situation remains fluid, with Trump required to notify Congress within 48 hours about the police takeover and needing congressional approval to extend federal control beyond 30 days.