Federal regulation enforcement officers will patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., for the following seven days, the White Home introduced on Thursday.
The improved federal presence will start at midnight. Will probably be led by the U.S. Park Police and can embody officers and brokers from the FBI, DEA, ATF, divisions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and different companies. The White Home mentioned the federal regulation enforcement can be in marked items.
The announcement comes a day after President Trump mentioned he was considering taking control of the Washington, D.C., police department within the wake of a violent assault on a former Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE) staffer.
“Washington, DC is an incredible metropolis, however it has been suffering from violent crime for a lot too lengthy. President Trump has directed an elevated presence of federal regulation enforcement to guard harmless residents. Beginning tonight, there can be no protected harbor for violent criminals in D.C.,” White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned. “President Trump is dedicated to creating our Nation’s capital safer for its residents, lawmakers, and guests from all around the globe.”
Trump has usually discovered himself at odds with Washington, D.C., expressing frustration about crime and homelessness. He has repeatedly threatened to take control of the town all through his second time period.
Crime in D.C. was down 35 p.c in 2024 from the earlier 12 months, marking a 30-year low, and data from the district the downward development persevering with.
Nonetheless, the difficulty got here up once more after Edward Coristine, a former DOGE staffer nicknamed “Big Balls,” was attacked in earlier this week. Police mentioned two 15-year-olds had been arrested within the tried carjacking.
Thursday’s order got here after a March government order establishing the Making D.C. Secure and Lovely Job Pressure “to make sure efficient federal participation” within the enforcement of immigration legal guidelines and redirecting sources to apprehend and deport migrants in Washington, in addition to monitoring its sanctuary-city standing to adjust to federal immigration legal guidelines.
NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer contributed to this report.
Up to date at 9:25 p.m.