National Guard troops and federal agents are fanning out across Washington, D.C., after President Donald Trump ordered a sweeping security deployment, claiming violent crime in the nation’s capital is “out of control.” The move — which includes taking command of the city’s police force — has drawn sharp criticism from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who calls it an “authoritarian push.”
By Tuesday evening, armored vehicles were stationed at tourist hubs and government buildings, while camouflaged troops erected barricades and mingled with onlookers. Officials say roughly 800 National Guard personnel and 500 federal law enforcement agents will take part in the operation.
The White House said 23 people were arrested Monday night for crimes ranging from homicide and gun offenses to drug dealing, stalking, and reckless driving. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed bureau agents were involved in about half of those arrests. “This is only the beginning,” declared press secretary Karoline Leavitt, pledging a month-long crackdown on violent offenders.
Trump has hinted at similar deployments to New York and Chicago, cities led by Democratic mayors. Bowser, however, disputes the premise, pointing to police data showing violent crime in D.C. fell to its lowest level in three decades in 2024 and continues to drop in 2025 — down 26% year-to-date, with robberies down 28%.
Still, a fatal shooting Monday night in Logan Circle — the city’s 100th homicide this year — underscored public safety concerns. The gunman, seen carrying a rifle, remains at large, prompting the Secret Service to bolster security near the White House.
Police Chief Pamela Smith welcomed the additional federal presence, saying it could help remove illegal guns from the streets. But Bowser urged residents to defend the city’s autonomy and “get to the other side of this guy” by electing a Democratic House as a check on Trump’s power.
The D.C. Police Union alleges the department is manipulating crime statistics to project a false decline, while FBI data shows a smaller drop of 9% last year. Even with falling crime rates, studies suggest the capital’s homicide rate remains above average for major U.S. cities.
