Today's News: Fed Intervention in Policing Washington D.C. Continues
Trump aims to extend federal control beyond the initial 30-day period, potentially through a national emergency, raising concerns among Democrats about an overreach.
Photo: Craig Hudson/For the Washington Post
Overview
Date: August 13, 2025
Topic: Federal Intervention in Washington D.C. Continues with National Guard and Federal Law Enforcement
Summary: President Donald Trump has initiated a federal takeover of Washington D.C.’s law enforcement, deploying the National Guard and federal agents to address what he describes as high crime rates and squalor. While the D.C. Police Chief welcomed the additional personnel, there are significant disputes over the city’s crime statistics, with D.C. officials asserting that violent crime is at a 30-year low despite a 2023 spike, directly contradicting Trump’s claims. The intervention also includes plans to address homeless encampments, offering shelters or threatening fines and jail time. Trump aims to extend federal control beyond the initial 30-day period, potentially through a national emergency, raising concerns among Democrats about an overreach of power and the city’s home rule.
Sources
CNN - National Guard’s presence will grow in DC Wednesday night, White House says
Fox News - DC mayor reverses course on Trump intervention, downplays city crime
The Washington Post - As federal agents surge in the capital, D.C. police chief welcomes boost
The Washington Post - Congress tried to control D.C. police in 1989. The results were disastrous.
The Wall Street Journal - Trump’s D.C. Crackdown Extends Long-Running Feud With Capital City
Key Points
President Trump has initiated a federal takeover of D.C. law enforcement, deploying the National Guard and various federal agencies to address alleged high crime rates.
The National Guard’s presence is expanding to a 24/7 posture, primarily providing administrative and logistical support, while federal agents are conducting joint patrols and making arrests.
A significant point of contention is the accuracy of D.C.’s crime statistics, with the Trump administration claiming a surge in crime, while D.C. officials cite data indicating a substantial decrease in violent crime and a 30-year low.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s reaction to the federal intervention has evolved from a pragmatic willingness to cooperate to a strong condemnation, labeling it an “authoritarian push” and an “intrusion on autonomy.”
Trump intends to seek Congressional approval to extend federal control beyond the initial 30-day period, suggesting he might declare a national emergency if Congress does not comply.
The federal intervention includes efforts to clear homeless encampments, providing options like shelters or threatening fines and jail time, and focuses on juvenile crime, with calls for stricter measures and curfew enforcement.
Democratic lawmakers and D.C. officials express deep concerns that Trump’s actions undermine the city’s home rule and autonomy, viewing it as a potential precedent for similar interventions in other cities.
Unique Highlights
CNN specifies that National Guard members are not authorized to make arrests themselves but are there to “create a safe environment for other officers.” It also reports specific arrest numbers: 43 on Tuesday night and 103 since the crackdown began last Thursday. The article uniquely mentions Trump’s broader involvement with D.C. institutions, including a review of the Smithsonian Institution and his control of the Kennedy Center board.
NBC News details the specific options presented to homeless individuals: leaving encampments, being taken to a shelter, offered addiction or mental health services, or facing fines or jail time. It includes quotes from Andy Wassenich of Miriam’s Kitchen expressing skepticism about the availability of resources and Wayne Turnage, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, stating the city has sufficient shelter space.
Fox News directly quotes Mayor Bowser calling Trump’s effort “an intrusion on our autonomy” and her controversial statement that some youth involved in disruptive behavior “are not criminals” but are causing “destruction.” It also provides the White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson’s direct rebuttal, accusing D.C. leaders of failing and manipulating crime statistics, and highlights specific “teen takeover” incidents in the Navy Yard neighborhood.
The Washington Post quotes D.C. Police Chief Smith welcoming the “500 additional personnel” as a positive impact given the D.C. police force’s reduced numbers. It specifies the deployment details, including approximately 130 FBI agents from out-of-state field offices, and that roughly half of the 800 mobilized National Guard troops have processed in and are patrolling near monuments without openly carrying guns. It also features Mayor Bowser advising parents to monitor their children to prevent them from becoming “a target” for “good TV and arrests.”
The Washington Post also provides a detailed historical account of a “disastrous” 1989 Congressional intervention in D.C. police hiring that led to an influx of unqualified and corrupt officers, including the “Dirty Dozen” FBI sting. It contrasts this with the more successful 1995 federal financial control board. The article also notes that the D.C. police force has shrunk from 3,800 to 3,200 since 2020 due to funding cuts.
The Wall Street Journal emphasizes Trump’s long-standing personal grievances with D.C., noting his rare departures from the White House and his irritation with graffiti. It quotes Stephen Miller comparing D.C.’s violence to Baghdad. The article highlights a $1.1 billion federal funding cut to D.C. proposed by the House in March, which has not been fully resolved, leading to city hiring freezes. Senator Tim Kaine (D., Va.) suggests Trump’s actions are a political maneuver and could be a “pilot program” for similar interventions elsewhere.
Contrasting Details
Crime Statistics and D.C.’s Condition:
Trump Administration’s View: President Trump and his administration consistently portray D.C. as a city overwhelmed by high crime, “bloodshed, bedlam and squalor” (The Wall Street Journal, CNN). White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson (Fox News) claimed D.C. leaders “changed crime statistics to hide the problem.”
D.C. Officials' View: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and city data directly contradict this narrative. CNN reports “city statistics show violent crime has dropped over the past two years after peaking in 2023.” Fox News quotes Bowser on a “26% decrease” in violent crime this year, adding to a “35% decrease” last year, although Fox News notes these figures may be disputed. The Washington Post states D.C. police data shows “violent crime has fallen substantially since the historic 2023 crime spike and is now at a 30-year low.”
Mayor Bowser’s Stance on Federal Intervention:
Initial Pragmatism/Appeasement: Initially, Mayor Bowser expressed a more tempered and pragmatic approach. CNN noted she wanted to ensure the federal surge was “useful.” Fox News reported her Monday comments were “significantly less inflammatory,” calling the move “unprecedented” but not “totally surprised.” The Wall Street Journal stated she “tempered her language on Trump” and said increased law enforcement “might be a positive development.”
Later Condemnation: Her tone later hardened significantly. Fox News reported her Tuesday comments called Trump’s effort “an intrusion on our autonomy” and an “authoritarian push.” The Washington Post also noted her condemnation in a community forum, where she stated, “We don’t live in a dirty city. We are not 700,000 scumbags and punks.”
Perspective on Juvenile Crime:
Mayor Bowser’s Downplay: Mayor Bowser (Fox News, The Washington Post) suggested that youth involved in destructive behavior are “not criminals, but they are getting together in big groups and causing some really — they’re causing destruction.”
Federal/Prosecutorial Emphasis: The Trump administration and federal prosecutors emphasize juvenile crime as a serious issue. The Washington Post mentions that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has called for the D.C. Council to overturn legislation reducing sentences for young offenders.
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