What federal agents can and can't do in Trump's D.C. crackdown

Here's what the federal agents in D.C. can and can't do:

Why is D.C. a unique case?

Washington, D.C.'s unique position as an area controlled by both city and federal powers gives the president the ability to temporarily control the D.C. police department and exclusively control the D.C. National Guard.

• The president put the D.C. police under federal control on Monday and directed other agencies to help crackdown on crime and homeless encampments in the city.
• Nineteen multi-agency teams are assisting in the federal crackdown, and 1,450 personnel were patrolling the city by Tuesday night, according to Axios' Mimi Montgomery.

What has Trump already done in D.C.?

Trump has been more willing to utilize federal law enforcement this term, and has already moved agents to atypical roles to serve his policy agenda.

• Trump deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles earlier this year to crack down on protests against his immigration raids, against California Gov. Gavin Newsom's request.
• Trump also sent the National Guard to the southern border to combat immigration, although government data shows that overall crossings are at historic lows.
• The president said Monday that he was planning to target five other Democrat-led cities in a campaign against crime, despite crime levels falling in all of the locations he named.

How are federal officers trained to serve civilians?

Federal officers aren't typically used in civilian law enforcement, as their day-to-day job does not revolve around interacting with civilians in the way that local police do.

• When asked about the kinds of training federal officers are being given to ensure civilian safety, Trump told reporters on Thursday that officers are "trained in common sense" and are "very tough people."
• ACLU-D.C. legal director Scott Michelman told Axios' Anna Spiegel that various training guidelines across agencies are a "huge concern," as each agency prepares for different missions and roles.
• "Accountability mechanisms for federal law enforcement — if they violate the Constitution — are so much weaker versus state and local," Michelman said.

What laws regulate federal troop involvement in civilian law enforcement?

The Posse Comitatus Act prohibits federal military troops from participating in civilian law enforcement, although there are a few exceptions, according to the Brennan Center.

The Insurrection Act is the primary exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which allows the president to deploy the military domestically in times of crisis too serious for civilian authorities to handle.

What are FBI agents doing in DC?

FBI agents are helping arrest civilians, according to a post from FBI Director Kash Patel.

• Patel said that agents working alongside federal partners arrested ten people during their "first big push" to "make D.C. safe again."

The FBI declined to comment on how agents are assisting other authorities on the ground.

• A spokesperson referred Axios to public resources about FBI training in response to a question about how the agents prepared for deployment.

What can the National Guard do in DC?

Roughly 800 National Guard members have been dispatched to D.C., working in shifts of 200 for 24/7 coverage.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Fox News on Monday that the agents wouldn't be involved in law enforcement, but they will have "broad latitude."

• Hegseth said that in the event that police officers aren't around, Guard members "will have their back to ensure they can take the necessary action to protect the citizens of D.C. and to protect themselves."

Yes, but: A White House official told Axios that the National Guard is not making arrests at this time.

• "They are protecting federal assets, providing a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deterring violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence," the official said.

Go deeper: National Guard to ramp up in DC as feds move to 24/7 patrols