Twenty days after President Trump stepped up federal law enforcement in D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser applauded much of the crackdown.

Why it matters: Bowser is legally bound to cooperate with Trump's "crime emergency," but now she's touting wins — a striking shift for a mayor who once called federalizing D.C.'s police force an "authoritarian push."

Driving the news: Bowser, during a press conference yesterday, pledged support for Trump's $2 billion request to Congress to "beautify" D.C. parks, fountains, roadways and more.

• Bowser expressed appreciation for "the surge of officers" on city streets, saying they've helped tamp down on illegal guns, carjackings, and homicides.

By the numbers: Carjackings fell 87% in the 20-day period vs. the same time last year, per the mayor.

• Overall crime dropped 15% from the same 2024 period, per city data.

Yes, but: While the mayor painted a Trumpian gold lining on much of the enforcement, she specifically targeted masked ICE agents and out-of-town National Guards members as examples of "what's not working."

• She also called out "a break in trust between police and community," as federal officers team up with D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

What they're saying: "I am devastated by people living in fear," Bowser said, acknowledging that "there's tremendous anxiety in the District."

Zoom in: Bowser also noted D.C.'s small but "highly visible" homeless encampment population, which has been targeted in clearings under the federal takeover.

• She plans to take a census later this week to quantify and locate homeless individuals, and connect people to shelters and services.

Zoom out: Bowser, who previously hyped autonomy and Home Rule "to get to the other side of this guy," was notably deferential toward Trump days after he issued a warning shot from the Oval Office:

• "Mayor Bowser better get her act straight or she won't be mayor very long because we'll take it over with the federal government, run it like it's supposed to be run," the president said Friday.
• Bowser held Wednesday's press conference after speaking with Trump, a meeting she compared to one during his first days in office, "where we discussed shared priorities for the District."
• Bowser noted that Trump's "knowledge of D.C. had significantly increased from the first time he was in the White House."

The other side: DC Councilmembers jumped to social media to criticize the mayor.

• "I just finished watching the mayor's press conference where she said she appreciates the federal surge and it's having positive results. That's not the case," Councilmember Robert White said in a video posted to X. "People are scared. People's rights are being violated."

Councilmember Charles Allen called it "a moral moment" for D.C., with residents "being taken off the streets," charged with crimes, and "scared to leave home."

• "All while they drag our city through the mud. This is wrong. Call it out."

Full story

Labor Day weekend travel is expected to surpass last year's record levels, with TSA preparing to screen hundreds of thousands more passengers than during the 2024 holiday.

The big picture: Domestic flight, hotel and car rental costs have dropped compared to the weekend last year.

Zoom in: The most congested time and place to hit the road in Washington over the long weekend?

• Today at 3:30pm, headed from D.C. toward Baltimore via the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, per INRIX data shared with AAA.
• Expect the trip to take 1 hour, 35 minutes — an 86% jump compared to the usual travel time.

By the numbers: TSA said it expects to screen nearly 17.4 million people between today and Sept. 3.

• With 2.91 million passengers, tomorrow is projected to be the busiest travel day over Labor Day weekend.

Go deeper.

❌ Federal prosecutors failed to get a felony indictment against "sandwich guy" — aka the Justice Department employee who threw a sandwich at a federal officer — after a grand jury rejected the bid, multiple outlets reported. TBD whether prosecutors try again to secure a felony indictment, or instead file the case as a misdemeanor. (Axios)

🚊 The Department of Transportation will take over management of Union Station via a cooperative agreement with Amtrak and the nonprofit Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, which controls the hub. (Axios)

"Real Housewives of Potomac" star Karen Huger will be released early from jail after she was found guilty of a DUI at the end of last year. She only served six months, about half the time of her sentence. (D.C. News Now)

Actress and producer Issa Rae is coming to D.C. on a book tour for her new collection of essays.

Why it matters: It's a chance to see Rae IRL after she cancelled her sold-out March show at the Kennedy Center once President Trump named himself chairman.

• "Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I've decided to cancel my appearance at this venue," she wrote on Instagram.

State of play: Rae will discuss her book, "I Should Be Smarter By Now," Sept. 16 at DAR Constitution Hall.

• The Hollywood veteran charts the highs and lows of her career from the beginning, sharing the lessons she has learned along the way.

What she's saying: Rae says the tour will focus on "talking about the journey" and telling her fans "the real" behind some of the stories in the essays.

🏛️ See who's hiring around D.C.

1. Facility Service Associate at YASH Technologies.
2. Senior Manager, Partnerships (Credit Cards) at U.S. News & World Report.
3. Director of Infrastructure, Housing at Arnold Ventures.
4. Leasing Consultant at Brookfield Properties.
5. General Manager at Healthy Fresh Meals.

Want more opportunities? Check out our Job Board.

Our fave tidbit of the week: A new red panda cub was recently born at the National Zoo's facility in Front Royal, Virginia.

State of play: The unnamed cub (TBD whether it's a girl or boy) was born to first-time parents Keahi and Rocket and has just started walking.

🎍Up next: Venturing out of the nest and eating bamboo (hopefully he won't venture too far like predecessor Rusty).

The bottom line: Don't tell Bao Li and Qing Bao, but they have new competition for cutest panda in the DMV.