D.C. Resistance Rises Against Expanded Federal Law Enforcement Amid Project 2025 Enforcement Moves

Under President Trump's administration in 2025, the U.S. government has aggressively pursued a conservative agenda known as Project 2025, with nearly half of its policy objectives already implemented across federal agencies. These measures include the revival of the death penalty, expanded ICE authority, rollbacks on civil rights protections, defunding Planned Parenthood, and strict restrictions on social safety programs, reflecting a broader government shift toward control and repression. In Washington, D.C., this agenda has manifested in a militarized occupation following Trump's declaration of a "crime emergency," involving National Guard deployments and increased federal law enforcement collaboration, which has sparked widespread local resistance including large-scale protests and community organizing against these measures. Activist groups such as Refuse Fascism are mobilizing non-violent demonstrations to demand Trump's removal, emphasizing the urgency of confronting what they describe as a fascist regime undermining democracy. Meanwhile, historical lessons from the 1930s highlight the importance of broad coalitions among diverse social movements—linking racial justice, climate activism, labor, and immigrant rights—to effectively counter rising authoritarianism and defend democratic values. This confluence of government policy and grassroots resistance illustrates a critical moment of political struggle in the nation.