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More federal troops expected to deploy across DC tonight
Federal law enforcement agencies patrolling the district as part of President Donald Trump’s vow to, in his words, make D.C. safe again. The White House called the initial effort a "great success." Meanwhile, many residents told FOX 5 that they haven’t necessarily noticed a change. FOX 5’s Josh Rosenthal is live in Northwest with more on how things are looking now.
WASHINGTON - It's day one of the White House's plan to drive down crime in the nation's capital.
The president sent out federal law enforcement into the streets of D.C. While all this is happening, there is still one person we haven't heard from: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
What we know:
On Friday, FOX 5 was working to track down members of the D.C. Council and Mayor Bowser.
Right now, the Mayor's Office has only said that they are aware of the White House's increase of federal law enforcement, but they have no further comment.
The White House officially started their plan to help combat crime in the District at 12 a.m. on Friday, adding over a dozen federal law enforcement agencies like Park Police, FBI and DEA agents to the streets. They’re reportedly focusing on specific areas, like Union Station.
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Day 1 of 'DC takeover': Additional law enforcement hits the streets
It's day one of the White House's plan to drive down crime in the nation's capital. The president sent out federal law enforcement into the streets of D.C. While all this is happening, there is still one person we haven't heard from: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
"At President Trump’s direction, the increase of federal law enforcement presence in DC last night was a great success. This is the first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, DC. The residents and visitors of our Nation’s capital can be confident that President Trump is delivering on his promise to Make DC Safe Again," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
READ MORE: White House says federal law enforcement will move into DC at midnight
What they're saying:
The White House has said that the operation will last for seven days but it could be longer.
Michael Fauntroy, Professor of Policy and Government at George Mason University, says there are still a lot of unknowns but the community should pay attention.
"There has always been law enforcement in the District of Columbia, if you will, with all of the various public steps in that regard," Fauntroy said. "It's important for everyone to know that crime in the District — it's an overreaction at some level."
FOX 5 did reach out to Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton from D.C. In a statement to FOX 5, she said, in part, "President Trump's unprecedented federalization of the D.C. Police today and his activation of the D.C. National Guard without D.C.'s consent underscore the necessity of D.C. statehood," Norton said. "Until we get the full protections that statehood would provide, our bills repealing the president's authority to federalize the local D.C. police department and to give D.C.'s mayor control over the D.C. National Guard, like governors of states have over their National Guards, places D.C. closer to having control over some of its most vital affairs."
According to D.C. police, crime is down significantly in 2025. Their data shows and almost 26 percent drop in violent crime overall.