President Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of the National Guard to the city as part of a broad crackdown on crime. At a White House news conference, Trump declared this a "historic action" to rescue the nation’s capital from “crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor,” calling it "Liberation Day" for D.C. He officially invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, placing the local police under direct federal control with Attorney General Pam Bondi appointed to lead the department immediately. Trump also declared a public safety emergency and ordered National Guard units to assist in restoring law and order in the city.

Trump’s move follows recent high-profile crimes in D.C., including the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer, and accusations from Republican politicians that the city is overwhelmed by crime and homelessness despite statistics showing a decline in violent offenses. He pledged support involving 800 National Guard personnel initially, with the possibility of deploying active servicemembers if necessary. The National Guard mobilization began Monday morning and will operate until Trump determines conditions have improved. The administration has also increased federal law enforcement presence with hundreds of officers from agencies such as the FBI, DEA, and Secret Service patrolling the city.

The federal takeover directive requires the D.C. Mayor to provide MPD services for federal use for up to 48 hours initially, extendable by notifying Congress. If extended beyond 30 days, Congressional approval is required. The Home Rule Act grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters in D.C., allowing this kind of federal intervention. Trump criticized local authorities as being insufficiently tough on crime and vowed to enforce removal of homeless encampments near the Capitol, with promises of relocation far from the city center. He also threatened harsh incarceration measures for criminals. This action echoes previous uses of the National Guard to address unrest in other cities and builds on Trump’s persistent law-and-order platform.

Local officials and political leaders have expressed concern and skepticism. Mayor Muriel Bowser and others argue that crime rates in D.C. have declined and warn National Guard troops are not intended for routine law enforcement. Despite this, Trump insisted the deployment will make the capital safer and cleaner. Federal agents are taking on expanded patrol roles rarely seen before, like checking license plates and arrest warrants. The move underscores tensions around governance in D.C., the only U.S. jurisdiction under Congressional authority, and signals Trump's intent to extend similar policies to other major cities facing crime challenges.