Washington DC Declared a Public Safety Emergency. Re-establishing Law, Order, Public Safety

“Washington, DC will be liberated today”. Declaring DC a public safety emergency. And with that, President Trump compared his mission to the nation’s capital to the challenge of the border and how his actions, in record time, simply ended border crossings. This is the first time a “city” has been targeted for such a broad campaign to improve safety, deal with homelessness, and clean up and beautify a location.

Federal law enforcement deployment to the nation’s capital began on August 10, 2025 in Washington, DC, with at least 130 FBI among them. Also present walking the streets and positioned at various areas are DEA, ATF, Secret Service, DHS, U.S. Marshals, Park Police, and National Guard – about 500 total.

While pushback came with statistics being given that crime has decreased by double digits year over year, violent crime of 5, 345 in 2023 to 3469 in 2024 (35% decrease) leaves a lot to be concerned about and to be addressed. The President also held up several sheets of data showing increases in specific crimes.

Here is the press conference video:

The President announced that the DC Police will be put under federal control, noting this is not the first time this has happened. The only clear precedent of federal control occurred during the 1968 riots. In the 1990s there was fiscal, not policing authority.

DC Police requested more police – they are at 3,500 – President Trump said no, not more police, but being allowed to do the job they were hired to do.

Neighborhoods will be put under emergency curfews, temporarily.

No cash bail, adopted by the DC City Council, was referenced as bad leadership decisions. President will move to change this statute in various cities, with Republican Congressional leadership. Noted that it is unlikely they will get one Democrat vote.

Also wants to eliminate Sanctuary city/state designation.

He reviewed several high profile killings. ATVs, motorbikes and gangs of very young youth, 11 to 17, roaming pockets of the city. Also, “slums”, referring to homeless, and that they will be moved on to other locations in DC.

Looking to make DC a “very safe city, very soon”.

Fixing potholes, repaving, cleaning up garbage, graffiti.

Removing homeless encampments from parks and monument area.

US AG Pam Bondi will take over management of DC Police. Seamless coordination among departments present.

Gang crack-down, DHS deportation efforts where appropriate.

Doug Burgham, who manages Park Police spoke. Oldest federal police in the nation, formed by Pres. George Washington. Charged with protecting national monuments. With 10s of millions of visitors a year. Areas were littered with homeless encampments – 70 have been removed. 80 monuments have been cleaned of grafitti.

Pete Hegseth mobilized DC National Guard – they will be in the streets of DC this week – more and specialized units will be brought in, if needed.

Pam Bondi said, “crime in DC is ending, and ending today”. Referenced tourism, and all the free opportunities with museums and parks. Introduced new command and control for the city. Juvenile crime is rampant in the capital – beatings – drive bys.

Kash Patel spoke about what they did in northern Virginia. 4,000 child victims – 33% increase. 1,500 KG of fentanyl – 25% increase. 19,000 arrests, double last year. 1,600 people arrested for violent attacks against children, 270 of them are human traffickers. Virginia experience stood up a task force to address crime. in one month 545 violent felons were arrested – simplicity in law enforcement is what they need. “We’re going to do this the right way, the lawful way”.

Judge Jeannine Pirro spoke about how violent criminals are being let go – she will be recommending new judges to the president. “We all want the same thing, we want a safe capitol…unfortunately we are not at this place… too much violent crime by young punks running in gangs… they know we can’t touch them because the laws are weak… need to go after the DC Council and absurd laws, no cash bail, etc.” We see you, we’re watching you, we’re changing the laws.

Washington DC statue desecration – old law of 1910 that has a mandatory 10 years in jail, no probation. In President’s 1st tenure when statues were being vandalized, they enacted the law, and immediately halted the attack on the monuments.

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Executive Order:

DECLARING A CRIME EMERGENCY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 740 of the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act (Public Law 93-198), as amended (section 740 of the Home Rule Act), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Crime is out of control in the District of Columbia.  Washington, District of Columbia, is our Nation’s capital and home to the central institutions of American governance.  Yet rising violence in the capital now urgently endangers public servants, citizens, and tourists, disrupts safe and secure transportation and the proper functioning of the Federal Government, and forces the diversion of critical public resources toward emergency response and security measures.  The city government’s failure to maintain public order and safety has had a dire impact on the Federal Government’s ability to operate efficiently to address the Nation’s broader interests without fear of our workers being subjected to rampant violence.

The increase in violent crime in the heart of our Republic has consequences beyond the individual tragedies that have dominated media coverage.  Such lawlessness also poses intolerable risks to the vital Federal functions that take place in the District of Columbia.  Violence and crime hamper the recruitment and retention of essential Federal employees, undermine critical functions of Government and thus the well-being of the entire Nation, and erode confidence in the strength of the United States.  These conditions are disgraceful anywhere, but particularly in the capital of our Nation and the seat of the Federal Government.  Citizens, tourists, and Federal workers deserve peace and security, not fear and violence.  The smooth functioning of executive departments and agencies, courts, diplomatic missions, and the Federal Government demands an effective law-enforcement mechanism capable of halting the precipitous rise in violent crime, not one that permits Government workers to be violently attacked by mobs or fatally shot close to the Federal buildings where they work.

The magnitude of the violent crime crisis places the District of Columbia among the most violent jurisdictions in the United States.  In 2024, the District of Columbia averaged one of the highest robbery and murder rates of large cities nationwide.  Indeed, the District of Columbia now has a higher violent crime, murder, and robbery rate than all 50 States, recording a homicide rate in 2024 of 27.54 per 100,000 residents.  It also experienced the Nation’s highest vehicle theft rate with 842.4 thefts per 100,000 residents — over three times the national average of 250.2 thefts per 100,000 residents.  The District of Columbia is, by some measures, among the top 20 percent of the most dangerous cities in the world.

As President, I have a solemn duty to take care that our laws are faithfully executed, and a sacred responsibility to protect the safety and security of United States citizens who live in and visit our Nation’s capital, including Federal workers who live or commute into the District of Columbia.  These conditions cannot persist.  We will make the District of Columbia one of the safest cities in the world, not the most dangerous.

Sec. 2.  Services of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.  I determine that special conditions of an emergency nature exist that require the use of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (Metropolitan Police force) for Federal purposes, including maintaining law and order in the Nation’s seat of Government; protecting Federal buildings, national monuments, and other Federal property; and ensuring conditions necessary for the orderly functioning of the Federal Government.  Effective immediately, the Mayor of the District of Columbia (Mayor) shall provide the services of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes for the maximum period permitted under section 740 of the Home Rule Act.

Sec. 3.  Operational Control of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.  (a)  The authority of the President conferred by section 740(a) of the Home Rule Act to direct the Mayor with respect to the current special conditions of an emergency nature is delegated to the Attorney General.

(b)  In accordance with section 740(a) of the Home Rule Act, the Mayor shall provide such services of the Metropolitan Police force as the Attorney General may deem necessary and appropriate.

Sec. 4.  Monitoring and Recommendations.  (a)  The Attorney General shall monitor and regularly consult with any senior official the Attorney General deems appropriate on the special conditions of an emergency nature that exist in the District of Columbia that require the use of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes.

(b)  The Attorney General shall regularly update me on the status of the special conditions of an emergency nature that exist in the District of Columbia that require the use of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes.

(c)  The Attorney General shall inform me of any circumstances that, in the Attorney General’s opinion, might indicate the need for further action by the President or that the action in this order is no longer necessary.

Sec. 5.  Severability.  If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any individual or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its other provisions to any other individuals or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Justice.