Trump places DC police under federal control, deploys National Guard

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and placing the city’s police department under federal control in an effort to boost public safety in the nation’s capital.

"I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, D.C.," Trump told reporters at a news conference at the White House. "And they're going to be allowed to do their job properly."

READ MORE: Section 740: How long will DC police be under federal control?

Trump pointed to several recent high-profile incidents in Washington, including the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old congressional intern and the assault of a DOGE staffer during an attempted carjacking.

READ MORE: Family of congressional intern gunned down in DC speaks out: 'He had big plans'

"This is liberation day in D.C. and we’re going to take our Capitol back," he said.

Trump formally declared a public safety emergency, despite recent data showing crime is on the decline in the District. He compared crime in the U.S. capital to that in Baghdad, Brasília and Bogotá, and said the city ranks poorly in global safety. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi will take responsibility of the D.C. police department, he said.

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

National Guard deployment timeline

Trump said he signed a presidential memorandum deploying 800 National Guard members to support law enforcement in D.C. He said he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to take over Washington’s police force. He also issued formal notification letters to Mayor Muriel Bowser and congressional leaders.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth likened the move to past deployments at the southern border and in Los Angeles.

"We will work alongside all D.C. police and federal law enforcement," Hegseth said, noting that Guard troops will begin arriving in the city over the coming week.

He added that the Pentagon is prepared to activate additional National Guard units and other specialized teams if needed.

READ MORE: Section 740: What we know about DC police federal takeover

DC crime stats

By the numbers:

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws. She said federal support would be better directed toward filling judicial vacancies or funding more prosecutors.

"I just think that’s not the most efficient use of our Guard," Bowser said Sunday on MSNBC’s The Weekend, while recognizing that deployment is ultimately the president’s decision.

READ THE FULL TEXT:

• Restoring Law and Order in the District of Columbia | Presidential Actions, Presidential Memoranda
• Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia | Presidential Actions, Executive Orders 

Bowser pointed to a steady decline in violent crime since a spike in 2023. City data shows violent crime is down 26% compared to this time last year, following a 35% drop in 2024 from the previous year.

Trump also said his administration has begun clearing homeless encampments from city parks.

"We’re getting rid of the slums, too," he said, adding Washington was just the start.

READ MORE: Who is Mike Gill? Trump remembers slain former official in addressing DC crime

Top DC prosecutor reacts

The District’s top prosecutor is pushing back against President Trump’s move to take control of the city’s police department, calling it "unnecessary and unlawful."

Attorney General Brian Schwalb said crime in Washington is not at emergency levels. After a spike in 2023, violent crime dropped to its lowest point in decades last year and has continued to decline in 2025, he said.

Schwalb warned the federal takeover could face legal challenges and said his office is "considering all of our options."

Federal presence intensified over the weekend

On Saturday, federal presence intensified, with 450 officers reportedly deployed across all four quadrants of the city. No arrest data has been released yet.

Also on Saturday, agents were seen in the Navy Yard area of the District, where D.C. police say a teen fired a gun toward a crowd of juveniles near the M Street Metro station. The teen was arrested. The FBI has since assigned officers to overnight patrols throughout the city.

READ MORE: 450 federal officers deployed across DC on Saturday as Mayor Bowser speaks out

Reclassifying marijuana

During the press conference, Trump also said he’s considering reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, signaling a possible shift in federal policy. "We’re looking at reclassification," Trump told reporters.

He said a decision could come in the next few weeks, calling the issue "very complicated" due to mixed public opinion.  While warning that marijuana "does bad for the children," Trump acknowledged hearing "great things" about its medical use.

Reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance would make it significantly easier to buy and sell cannabis legally.

Stay with the FOX 5 team for the latest. The FOX LOCAL app is your source for live FOX 5 DC updates. Click here to download.

NewsDonald J. TrumpWashington, D.C.PoliticsDonald J. TrumpCrime and Public Safety