August 11, 2025
RED FM News Desk
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he is taking control of Washington, D.C.’s police department and deploying 800 National Guard members to reduce crime, despite city officials stating crime rates are already falling.
Standing with the attorney general, defense secretary, and FBI director, Trump declared a public safety emergency, pledging to remove homeless encampments, eliminate “slums,” and address potholes and graffiti.
He appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi to oversee the Metro Police Department, though federal law limits such control to 30 days.
Trump’s move marks an escalation of his tough-on-crime agenda, leveraging D.C.’s status as a federal district.
However, he offered no plans to address root causes of crime or homelessness. Local leaders condemned the action as unlawful and unnecessary.
District Attorney General Brian Schwalb said violent crime is at a 30-year low and down 26% this year, disputing any “crime emergency.” Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the intervention, calling it a reminder of why D.C. should have statehood protections.
Outside the White House, protesters gathered to oppose Trump’s actions, while officials vowed to follow the law during what Bowser labeled a “so-called emergency,” describing the move as unsettling but unsurprising given past rhetoric.
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