Today's News: Trump Federalizes DC Police and Calls in the National Guard

Trump justified these actions by portraying D.C. as a city overrun with “bloodthirsty criminals” and “slums,” despite official crime statistics showing a significant decline in violent crime.

Terrence Dorsey

Aug 11, 2025

Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times

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Date: August 11, 2025
Topic: President Trump’s Federal Takeover of Washington, D.C. Police and National Guard Deployment to Combat Crime and Homelessness
Summary: President Donald Trump announced on August 11, 2025, an unprecedented federal takeover of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of approximately 800 National Guard troops. Trump justified these actions by portraying D.C. as a city overrun with “bloodthirsty criminals” and “slums,” despite official crime statistics showing a significant decline in violent crime. The move, invoking the D.C. Home Rule Act, allows for a temporary 30-day federal control, with the possibility of extension via congressional approval. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other local officials criticized the action as “unsettling and unprecedented” and unnecessary, while acknowledging the President’s legal authority. The initiative also includes efforts to remove homeless encampments and may serve as a model for other Democratic-run cities.

Sources

Key Points

President Trump announced the federal takeover of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of approximately 800 D.C. National Guard troops.
Trump justified these actions by claiming D.C. is overrun with crime and homelessness, describing it as a “disgusting” and “lawless” city.
Official D.C. crime statistics, reported across multiple sources, contradict Trump’s portrayal, showing a significant decline in violent crime compared to previous years.
The actions are taken under Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act, allowing for a temporary federal takeover of 30 days, with the possibility of extension requiring congressional approval.
Attorney General Pam Bondi is designated to oversee or take command of the federal law enforcement efforts.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser universally criticized Trump’s move as “unsettling and unprecedented” and unnecessary, while acknowledging the President’s legal authority under the Home Rule Act.
Several articles reference Trump’s previous controversial deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles earlier in the year and his pardoning of January 6 rioters.
Trump stated his intent to address homelessness by removing encampments and suggested that similar federal interventions might be extended to other large, Democratic-run cities.

Unique Highlights

The New York Times - “Trump Takes Control of D.C. Police, Citing ‘Bloodthirsty Criminals.’ But Crime Is Down.”: Uniquely reports on Trump’s comments regarding Terry Cole, who was sworn in as the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration less than a month ago: “I hope I don’t have to fire him in two weeks because he’s too soft,” Mr. Trump said after calling Mr. Serralta up to the briefing room lectern to shake his hand. “If you’re soft, weak and pathetic, like so many people, I will fire you so fast.”
The New York Times - “Trump’s Use of National Guard in L.A. Remains Contentious”: Provides detail on the ongoing lawsuit challenging Trump’s previous National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, including allegations of illegal use of federal troops for domestic law enforcement and the negative impact on the California National Guard’s morale and ability to perform other duties like wildfire management.
CNN reports that the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department leadership and Mayor Muriel Bowser were not aware of Trump’s plan to take over the department prior to his public announcement. It also highlights a Washington Post-Schar School poll indicating 71% of D.C. residents feel Trump is too involved in local issues, and mentions the House GOP’s failure to restore $1 billion in D.C. funding.
NBC News directly quotes D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb calling the administration’s actions “unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful” on X, and D.C. delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton describing it as a “historic assault on D.C. home rule.”.
Fox News provides specific crime statistics: violent crime down 26%, assaults with a dangerous weapon down 20%, and homicides down 12% this year compared to 2024. Quotes Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that other National Guard units and specialized units are prepared to be brought in if needed.
The Washington Post explains that D.C.’s lack of statehood allows Trump to mobilize the D.C. National Guard similar to a governor, bypassing usual restrictions on military involvement in civilian law enforcement. States that the administration has already mobilized FBI agents in recent days for overnight shifts to help prevent carjackings. Quotes D.C. Council members' joint statement calling it a “manufactured intrusion on local authority.” Mentions the administration’s plan to expand the ages at which juveniles can be charged as adults.
The Wall Street Journal notes Trump’s comparison of D.C.’s homicide rate to Bogotá, Colombia. States that National Guard troops won’t carry arms, but their weapons will be close by. Mentions Trump’s call for Congress to act to end cashless bail.

Contrasting Details

Crime Statistics Interpretation: While all articles agree that D.C.’s crime statistics show a decline, Trump’s rhetoric presented the city as experiencing an out-of-control crime surge. For example, The New York Times(D.C. Police article) and The Wall Street Journal cite a 35% drop in violent crime from 2023 to 2024, whereas NBC News, Fox News, and The Washington Post report a 26% decrease in violent crime compared to 2024. NBC News also states the overall crime rate fell to a 30-year low in 2024, and The Wall Street Journal similarly reports violent crime at its lowest in over 30 years.
D.C. Police Department Leadership: President Trump stated he appointed Terry Cole, the administrator for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, as the head of the D.C. police department (The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal). However, Mayor Muriel Bowser asserted that nothing in the organizational chart had changed and that Police Chief Pamela A. Smith would remain in her position, reporting to the deputy mayor and then directly to Bowser (The New York Times (D.C. Police article), CNN). This creates a direct conflict regarding who is officially in command of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department from the perspective of the federal government versus the local D.C. government.

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