Trump Takes Federal Control of D.C. Police Amid Crime Decline, Mayor Criticizes Move

President Donald Trump has announced a federal takeover of Washington, D.C.'s police force and the deployment of up to 1,000 National Guard troops, citing concerns over violent crime and homelessness in the capital. Trump portrayed the city as being overrun by violent gangs, drug addicts, and homeless individuals, warning of imminent danger and pledging a crackdown to restore law and order. However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other local officials strongly opposed the move, highlighting that violent crime has actually decreased significantly, reaching a 30-year low, with major drops in homicides and robberies from 2023 to 2024. Bowser called Trump's actions "unsettling and unprecedented," and criticized his reliance on outdated crime data from the COVID-19 era, while emphasizing continued local efforts to improve safety. The Democratic Mayors’ Association condemned the federal intervention as a politically motivated power grab, underscoring their commitment to community-based crime reduction. The situation underscores a growing tension between the federal government and local authorities over control and approaches to public safety in American cities.