Washington D.C. has seen a dramatic increase in federal presence as President Trump orders armed military personnel to conduct continuous patrols throughout the nation's capital. Reports confirm that between 100 and 200 National Guard soldiers have been deployed to address what the administration deems as emergency-level criminal activity in the district.
The expanded military presence, announced by Colonel Dave Butler, is part of a comprehensive plan by the Trump administration to tackle the surge in crime in the capital. President Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday evening to declare that the federal government has now assumed control over the city. "D.C. has been under siege from thugs and killers, but now, D.C. is back under Federal Control where it belongs. The White House is in charge," he stated.
The president's plan involves the military and police working in tandem to transform the city's conditions and restore safety to its residents. "The Military and our Great Police will liberate this City, scrape away the filth, and make it safe, clean, habitable and beautiful once more!" Trump announced.
However, this federal intervention has been met with resistance from the public. Citizens have taken to the streets in protest, with chants such as "Go home, fascists" and "Get off our streets" aimed at the deployed forces. Law enforcement has established vehicle checkpoints along major thoroughfares, including the 14th Street Northwest corridor, where demonstrators have positioned themselves, attempting to redirect traffic and demanding officers remove protective face coverings.
The administration has consistently argued that criminal activity in Washington D.C. has reached crisis levels, necessitating an immediate federal response. This perspective is disputed by district leadership, which cites statistical evidence indicating that violent crime has dropped to thirty-year lows, following a temporary increase two years prior.
Military personnel began appearing in small groups across various city locations in the days leading up to Wednesday's significant expansion of their visible presence. National Guard representatives confirmed that troops would begin executing additional operational duties on Thursday.
Coordination of patrol activities began on Wednesday, with Homeland Security Investigations agents working the U Street corridor and Drug Enforcement Administration officers maintaining a presence on the National Mall. Joint patrols between DEA personnel and Metropolitan Police Department officers took place in the Navy Yard area, while FBI agents stationed themselves along Massachusetts Avenue.
Tuesday night operations involved 1,450 federal and local officers and resulted in 43 arrests, a substantial increase from the previous evening. Charges ranged from suspected driving under the influence to outstanding warrants for assault with deadly weapons. Officers also confiscated seven illegal firearms during the sweep, contributing to the growing tally of weapons removed from circulation.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers confirmed that total arrests have exceeded 100 since the initiation of the enhanced federal law enforcement presence last week. President Trump has hinted at a potential expansion of the federal control duration and suggested congressional involvement in modifying city ordinances considered inadequate by the administration.
Police Chief Pamela Smith, during her interview with a Fox affiliate, acknowledged staffing challenges, noting that the Metro Police Department operates nearly 800 officers below capacity. She expressed appreciation for the temporary federal agent assistance in addressing this shortage.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the federal intervention as "authoritarian" but acknowledged the positive aspects of increased law enforcement presence and weapons confiscation efforts. "I think they regard it as a success to have more presence and take more guns off the street, and we do too," Bowser stated.
President Trump has also indicated that similar federal interventions could extend to other major metropolitan areas, naming cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Baltimore, and Oakland as potential targets for future operations. "This will go further," Trump announced. "We're going to take back our capital ... and then we'll look at other cities also."
