Trump increases federal law enforcement in DC amid crime concerns

Trump increases federal law enforcement in DC

The White House has increased the federal law enforcement presence in the nation?s capital for at least a week to combat crime, following President Donald Trump?s suggestion that his administration could take full control of the city.

WASHINGTON - The White House has increased the federal law enforcement presence in the nation’s capital for at least a week to combat crime, following President Donald Trump’s suggestion that his administration could take full control of the city.

What they're saying:

"Washington, DC is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long," Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said in a statement. "President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens."

During the swearing in of Trayon White to D.C. Council for Ward 8, FOX 5 DC asked White about Trump's threatened federal takeover of the District.

"I think we have one of the strongest budgets of any city for the last 20 years. We are fiscally responsible. We have a AAA rating bond rating. We've shown that we can be responsible with our funds. We don't need federal interference. In fact, they've only crippled Washington D.C. and the progress we've made over the last four decades," said White. 

Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder said he doesn't want "any congressional or federal interference." 

"As a council member, you know, it's up to our legislative body working with the executive to come up with public safety measures to keep our citizens safe. We don't want any congressional or federal interference, so it's very concerning," said Felder. 

READ MORE: Trump threatens DC takeover, plans increase in federal law enforcement

Federal law enforcement surge

Leavitt said the increased federal presence means "there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C."

Trump has repeatedly suggested that control of Washington could revert to federal authorities, a move that would require Congress to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act. He said lawyers are reviewing the possibility, though it could face strong opposition.

"We have a capital that’s very unsafe," Trump told reporters this week. "We have to run D.C."

The White House said the increased law enforcement presence would "make D.C. safe again." The plan began at midnight, led by U.S. Park Police.

READ MORE: 'Big Balls' DC attack update: Police release photo of person of interest

The plan will run for seven days, with the option to extend "as needed," under Trump’s earlier executive order creating the Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force. Federal officers will be clearly identified, operating in marked units with high visibility, the White House said.

Multiple agencies 

Participating agencies include the U.S. Capitol Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Protective Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Police units from Amtrak and the city’s Metro rail system are also taking part in the operation.

READ MORE: President Trump threatens to deploy the National Guard to Washington D.C.

Trump has long claimed that crime and violence are rising in Washington, recently expanding his criticism to include litter and graffiti. But the immediate trigger for the increased police presence was last weekend’s attempted carjacking of a high-ranking official from the Department of Government Efficiency by a group of teenagers.

‘Big Balls’ attack

The victim, Edward Coristine, known as "Big Balls," is one of the most prominent figures in DOGE, which was created to cut jobs and shrink the federal bureaucracy. Police have arrested two 15-year-olds and say they’re still searching for additional suspects.

"If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore," Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week.

READ MORE: Trump once again threatens DC 'takeover' after signing order to crack down on homelessness

The president later said he was weighing a repeal of Washington’s limited Home Rule or "bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly." 

Thursday’s announcement comes as D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s administration shows a drop in homicides and carjackings, both of which surged across the city in 2023.

Carjackings in Washington fell in 2024, dropping from 957 to just under 500. The trend appears to be continuing in 2025, with fewer than 200 reported so far this year.

Featured

article

'Big Balls' DC attack update: Police release photo of person of interest

D.C. police have released a photo of a person of interest in the violent attack and attempted carjacking of Edward Coristine, a former official in the Trump administration known by the nickname "Big Balls."