Trump Deploys National Guard, Takes Control of Washington, D.C. Police Department Amid Crime Emergency

As President Donald Trump announced the deployment of the National Guard and the taking of control of the Washington, D.C. Police Department, citing a public safety emergency after an assault on a former government worker, the city's residents are left wondering about the implications of this unprecedented move. The Home Rule Act of 1973 grants Congress oversight and authority over the capital while allowing district residents limited self-governance, allowing the president to take control of the city's police for up to 48 hours if he determines "special conditions of an emergency nature exist." This marks the first time in the act's history that a president has assumed control of the city's police force.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard and take control of the D.C. Police Department is based on the Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants the president temporary powers to assume control of the city's police force in emergency situations.
• The president can take control of the police department for up to 48 hours without congressional approval, but any control lasting more than 30 days requires congressional approval and must be passed into law.
• Trump's move is the first time a president has exercised this authority in the history of the Home Rule Act, and its implications for the city and its residents are still unclear.
• The decision to deploy the National Guard is still under legal scrutiny after Trump's deployment of them in Los Angeles, and the limits of federal law enforcement to protect federal buildings and employees remain unclear.
• Despite Trump's claims that crime is "out of control," data shows that violent crime in Washington, D.C. has been declining since its 2023 spike, with two years of sustained improvement.
• The D.C. Police Union supports Trump's move, saying that "something needs to be done" to address the city's crime problem.

Statistics:

• 274 reported homicides in 2023, the city's highest number since 1997
• A 32% drop in homicides in 2024 to 187, and another 12% fall so far this year, with 99 reported as of Sunday
• Carjackings dropped from 959 in 2023 to around 500 in 2024, and have fallen further in 2025, with just 188 incidents as of Saturday
• Trump announced that he will "look at" taking action in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles due to their crime rates
• 800 soldiers from the D.C. National Guard were activated, with up to 200 assigned to support law enforcement
• Up to 130 FBI agents were moved to patrol with D.C. police in several neighborhoods over the weekend

Sources:

• CNN
• Home Rule Act of 1973
• Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department
• D.C. Police Union
• Defense Department
• Trump's Truth Social