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WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced one of the most sweeping federal interventions in Washington, D.C. governance in decades on Monday, declaring a “public safety emergency” and placing the city’s police force under direct federal control.
“This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump said at the White House, invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act — a rarely used authority that allows the president to direct the services of the Metropolitan Police Department for federal purposes.
The move follows an executive order Trump signed on August 11, 2025, declaring that “crime is out of control in the District of Columbia” and that “special conditions of an emergency nature exist” requiring federal use of the city’s police. The order cites violent crime as a threat not only to residents and visitors but also to the functioning of the federal government itself.
“A Disgrace Anywhere, But Particularly in the Capital”
The executive order’s first section sets out the administration’s case:
“Washington, District of Columbia, is our Nation’s capital and home to the central institutions of American governance. Yet rising violence in the capital now urgently endangers public servants, citizens, and tourists, disrupts safe and secure transportation and the proper functioning of the Federal Government, and forces the diversion of critical public resources toward emergency response and security measures.”
The order goes on to say that such lawlessness “poses intolerable risks to the vital Federal functions that take place in the District of Columbia” and that “these conditions are disgraceful anywhere, but particularly in the capital of our Nation and the seat of the Federal Government.”
Trump repeated this sentiment in his remarks, saying, “You go to other countries and you see their capitals — they’re beautiful, they’re safe. And ours has become dangerous and dirty. That’s not going to continue.”
Crime Data and Comparisons
The executive order and Trump’s speech both relied heavily on statistics:
In 2024, D.C.’s homicide rate was 27.54 per 100,000 residents, higher than all 50 states.
The city recorded the highest vehicle theft rate in the nation — 842.4 per 100,000 residents — more than three times the national average of 250.2.
Trump said car thefts had doubled over five years and carjackings had more than tripled.
“The magnitude of the violent crime crisis places the District of Columbia among the most violent jurisdictions in the United States,” the order says, adding that by some measures D.C. is “among the top 20 percent of the most dangerous cities in the world.”
Trump made global comparisons: “It’s higher than Bogota, Colombia. Higher than Baghdad, Panama City, Brasilia, San Jose, Mexico City, Lima. This is the capital of the United States we’re talking about.”
“They Spit, We Hit”
Perhaps the most striking moment during the press conference was Trump’s directive for how police should respond to assaults, such as being spit on:
“They love to spit in the face of the police as the police are standing up there in uniform. I said, you tell them, you spit, and we hit. And they can hit real hard.”
Trump criticized past policies he said prevented officers from responding: “For three, four years, I’ve watched police standing there, people spitting in their face, and they’re not allowed to do anything. Now they are allowed to do whatever the hell they want.”
The executive order does not address use-of-force policy, but Trump’s language marks a clear rhetorical shift toward aggressive physical response.
Federal Command Structure
Section 3 of the executive order delegates the president’s emergency authority to the Attorney General. Bondi now has the power to direct the mayor to provide whatever Metropolitan Police services she “may deem necessary and appropriate” for federal purposes.
Bondi announced the new leadership team:
Terry Cole, who also serves as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) administrator, will serve as the interim federal commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department.
U.S. Marshal Gady Serralta will oversee command and control.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will coordinate with Cole and Serralta.
FBI Director Kash Patel will provide federal investigative support.
“Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today,” Bondi said. “We are going to use every power we have to fight criminals here.”
“I hope I don’t have to fire him in two weeks because he’s too soft,” Mr. Trump said after calling Mr. Serralta up to the briefing room lectern to shake his hand. “If you’re soft, weak, and pathetic, like so many people, I will fire you so fast.” Serralta was confirmed as the head of the U.S. Marshals on August 1.
Juvenile Crime
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said her focus will be on violent juvenile offenders, describing current laws as inadequate:
“I can’t touch you if you’re 14, 15, 16, 17 years old and you have a gun. And you’re not stupid, you know that. So you take advantage of it.”
Pirro said she would work to change the law so that “emboldened criminals” understand, “We see you.”
She cited a case where a young offender convicted of shooting someone on a bus was sentenced to probation and told to attend college: “Enough. It changes today.”
National Guard Mobilization
Alongside the executive order, Trump issued a memorandum authorizing the Secretary of Defense to deploy the D.C. National Guard. Pete Hegseth said the Guard will be “operationalized by the Secretary of the Army” and visible on D.C. streets within the week.
The Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, is a Boone, N.C., native. He was one of the Republicans who ran for the 11th Congressional District seat vacated by then-Rep. Mark Meadows, which was ultimately won by Madison Cawthorn. Meadows went on to serve as Chief of Staff in the Trump White House from 2020-2021.
If needed, Guard units from other states could be brought in. Trump also said military personnel could be deployed if necessary, noting, “It’s been used many times over the years.”
Homeless Encampments and “Beautification”
Trump pledged to remove homeless encampments from parks, underpasses, and other public spaces:
“We’re getting rid of the slums where they live… We’re not going to allow them to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see.”
It isn’t immediately clear where those people experiencing homelessness will go. He said those displaced would be “helped as much as you can help,” but did not detail housing or shelter arrangements.
Bondi said U.S. Park Police had removed more than 70 homeless camps since March 27 under a prior executive order, and more removals would follow.
The president linked safety and appearance throughout his remarks, promising road resurfacing, graffiti removal, and repairs to public spaces: “We’re going to restore the city back to the gleaming capital that everybody wants it to be.”
Ending No-Cash Bail
Trump criticized D.C.’s no-cash-bail policy as “central” to the crime problem:
“Somebody murders somebody and they’re out on no cash bail before the day is out. We’re going to change the statute… We’ll count on the Republicans in Congress and Senate to vote.”
Oversight and Review
Section 4 of the executive order directs the Attorney General to “monitor and regularly consult” on the emergency conditions, update the president, and recommend when federal control should end or whether additional presidential action is needed.
The order closes with the line:
“We will make the District of Columbia one of the safest cities in the world, not the most dangerous.”
Closing Remarks
Trump ended his remarks by promising swift change:
“It’s going to be a very safe city very soon. We’re going to make it safe. We’re going to make it smart. We’re going to make it beautiful — so beautiful.”
Under Section 740 authority, the federal takeover is limited to 30 days unless extended by Congress. Trump acknowledged that any continuation beyond that point will require legislative approval.
