What to expect under Trump's federal takeover of D.C.
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images
Washingtonians are looking for clarity in the wake of President Trump's announcement Monday that he's taking over the D.C. police and sending the National Guard into the city.
The big picture: There are still some outstanding questions about how the enhanced federal control will play out across the District, which Trump painted as "totally out of control" even as it has seen a drop in violent crime.
- It's another example of how the Trump administration's recent moves have had an outsize impact on D.C. residents.
What we know
National Guard: About 800 members will begin to appear on D.C. streets this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a Monday briefing.
- They will work in shifts of 200 for 24/7 coverage, and some will be stationed at intersections, reports the Washington Post.
- "The National Guard is being deployed to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests and deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence," a White House official tells Axios.
Between the lines: The National Guard won't be involved in law enforcement functions, but they will have "broad latitude," Hegseth told Fox News Monday evening.
- If police aren't around, Hegseth "will have their back to ensure they can take the necessary action to protect the citizens of D.C. and to protect themselves."
- Other states "will contribute this week going into the weeks to come," Hegseth added.
- Trump said he may bring in the military "if needed."
Meanwhile, Attorney General Pam Bondi will be in charge of the D.C. police, which includes more than 3,000 sworn members.
Time frame: The D.C. crackdown is expected to last 30 days, but a White House official said that's subject to change, "consistent with the Task Force's operations."
- Under the Home Rule Act provision, Trump can temporarily take over D.C. police for up to 30 days.
- Hegseth told Fox News the troops could remain in D.C. for weeks or months, but emphasized that it's "the president's call."
Zoom in: All federal officers in D.C. will be identifiable by things like a jacket, badge or uniform, said Mayor Muriel Bowser, who made it clear that she plans to comply with Trump's orders.
- They will be deployed in already patrolled areas that have seen spikes in violent crime, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith added at a Monday press conference, as well as nightlife spots like U Street.
What we're watching: Bowser said she didn't know whether the National Guards will be armed but said that all D.C. officers will still be subject to local laws while under federal enforcement.
- Bowser also emphasized that Smith still reports to her. "Nothing about our organizational chart has changed."
- The mayor said that she's reached out to Bondi and hopes to schedule a meeting soon.
Zoom out: Trump also vowed on Monday to remove homeless encampments from parks in the city.
- And he talked about his promises to "beautify D.C.," such as fixing potholes and "the medians that are falling down all over the roads."
- "We're going to clean up the trash and the graffiti and the grime and the dirt," he said. "We're going to restore the city back to the gleaming capital that everybody wants it to be."
- The White House hasn't provided further details about the operation and timeline.
What's ahead: The Trump administration suggested that it plans to address what it sees as a surge of youth crime in the District.
- "The laws are weak," U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said at a White House press conference Monday, regarding juvenile crime. "We're going to change the law to catch you."
More from Axios: