Trump deploys National Guard in Washington DC, places it under direct federal control
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US President Donald Trump Monday invoked Home Rule Act in Washington DC and placed it under direct federal control. Deploying National Guards troops in DC, Trump said he is placing Washington police under federal control.The President said he was deploying National Guard troops and putting the Washington police force under federal control to tackle crime in the US capital. "This is Liberation Day in DC, and we're going to take our capital back," Trump said at a White House press conference.'I'm officially invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, you know what that is, and placing the DC Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,' Trump said during a White House news conference.The president told a crowd of reporters that his actions come as 'something's out of control, but we're going to put it in control very quickly, like we did on the southern border.''I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, DC, and they're going to be allowed to do their job properly,' Trump added.The President even compared crime in the American capital with that in other major cities, saying Washington performs poorly on safety relative to the capitals of Iraq, Brazil and Colombia, among others.'We're getting rid of the slums, too,' Trump said, adding that the U.S. would not lose its cities and that Washington was just a start.Trump also declared a public safety emergency in Colombia, adding that he would also military if needed."We are going to take our capital back," he said. He said that he plans to place the Washington DC Police Department under "direct federal control" using the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. Trump said he will be deploying the national guard to DC and federalising the city's police department.The move comes after Trump ordered a seven-day surge in federal law enforcement within the city last week, pointing to several high-profile crimes. The President said the murder rate in Washington DC is higher than some "of the worst places on Earth" and says the number of car thefts and car jackings has also increased.On crime rates, the president talks about a peak in 2023. But data shows crime has fallen in the US capital since then. Trump said Washington DC has been "taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals", as well as "drugged out maniacs and homeless people".For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in Washington reflects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement officials as well as the National Guard, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly emboldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts.Washington DC is a bustling urban center with schools and businesses serving 700,000 residents -- but is also the seat of national power, home to the White House, Capitol and Supreme Court.Unlike the 50 U.S. states, the city functions under a distinct arrangement with the federal government, which restricts its self-governance and gives Congress exceptional authority over local affairs.Predominantly Democratic, the city often faces criticism from Republican lawmakers, who accuse it of being rife with crime, burdened by homelessness, and suffering from poor financial management. In 1973, Congress passed the Home Rule Act, allowing residents to elect a mayor and a city council, although laws passed by the body are subject to congressional review and veto.Congress also controls the city's budget, which has led to political tensions when lawmakers have blocked local initiatives on marijuana legalization, reproductive rights and police funding.Washington doesn't rank among the top 10 U.S. cities for violent crime rates, though it has long faced challenges with public safety, according to AFP.In the 1990s, the city grappled with soaring homicide numbers, fueled by the crack cocaine epidemic, peaking at about 480 killings in 1991.Crime fell sharply through the 2000s but spiked again after the Covid-19 pandemic. By 2023, homicides had climbed to a 20-year high, with 274 people killed — a 36% jump from the previous year.Preliminary 2024 figures from the Metropolitan Police Department, however, show a sharp reversal: homicides are down 32% from 2023, helping drive a broader decline in violent crime, which has fallen 35% year over year.D.C. is not a state of its own, but it is also not a part of any other state, which means the federal government has unique powers over how the city is run.In 1973, Congress passed the DC Home Rule Act, which gives the city some power to govern itself. It's what allows D.C. residents to elect the D.C. Council and the mayor.Before the Home Rule Act, the president appointed commissioners who ran the District.In 1967, former President Lyndon Johnson replaced that commissioner government with a mayor and council. But the council members were presidential appointees, not elected officials.The Home Rule Act was what gave D.C. residents elected representation. In theory, that power only can be taken away if Congress votes to do so. The president is allowed to deputize the National Guard, giving them orders to support local law enforcement.Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washington's homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go.'The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY,' Trump wrote Sunday. 'We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don't have to move out. We're going to put you in jail where you belong.'Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option 'to extend as needed.'On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 officers and agents to assist in Washington.Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize control of Washington, asserting that crime was 'ridiculous' and the city was 'unsafe,' after the recent assault of a high-profile member of the Department of Government Efficiency.(With agency inputs)
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