D.C. warned more federal agents are arriving and will be patrolling 24/7: White House

Published On: August 15, 2025

By Ashraf Khalil and Lindsay Whitehurst, Associated Press

Washington President Donald Trump’s historic announcement that his administration would take over the city’s police department for at least a month this week prompted the White House to promise a ramp-up of National Guard troops and federal officers on the streets of the nation’s capital around-the-clock as a wary Washington waited.

The Democratic mayor of the city walked a tightrope in politics, at one point calling the takeover an authoritarian effort and then portraying the influx of officers as an improvement in public safety, albeit one with few clear indicators of success. Even when District of Columbia leaders cited data showing violent crime at a 30-year low following a significant increase two years ago, the Republican president claimed that the city’s violence was at emergency levels that could only be resolved by such federal action.

Small contingents of federal officers have been spotted in various parts of the city for the past two days. However, according to a Guard spokesperson who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the planning process, a major surge was anticipated at the Guard’s armory on Wednesday, and troops were scheduled to begin conducting more missions in Washington on Thursday.

Compared to roughly two dozen the previous evening, 43 arrests were made by hundreds of federal law enforcement and local police officers who patrolled the streets Tuesday night.

Christina Henderson, a councilwoman from D.C., dismissed the arrest records as a series of traffic stops and claimed the government was attempting to hide the needlessness of this federal involvement.

“This list of arrests seems like a typical Saturday night in any major city,” Henderson remarked.

The U.S. Park Police, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives personnel were observed in one neighborhood checking the vehicle of a driver who had stopped just outside a permitted parking lot to get takeout and drop off a friend. U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel gathered in a parking lot two blocks away and then drove off on patrol.

Federal patrols were less visible in other areas of the city, including those with well-known nightlife hotspots. Other than Park Police vehicles stopping a taxi driver close to the Washington Monument, there was not much law enforcement activity at the National Mall.

In contrast to other states and localities in the United States, the legislation grants Trump the authority to assume control of Washington’s police force for a maximum of 30 days. He would need congressional approval to extend his control over the city for a longer period of time, which would be difficult given Democratic opposition.

Trump said he might ask for more time in power or ask Congress to take control of local ordinances that his administration believes are too lenient on crime. We will do this as soon as possible. However, we will desire extensions. A national emergency is not something I want to declare. “I will if I have to,” he responded.

Before she ran for the D.C. Council, Henderson, a former employee of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, claimed to be in contact with contacts on the Hill to mobilize opposition to any Trump extension request. “It’s Day Three and he’s already saying he’s going to need more time,” she continued.

Targeting a variety of infractions

According to the White House, 1,450 federal and local officers arrested people throughout the city on suspicion of driving under the influence, unlawful entrance, and assault with a deadly weapon. They confiscated seven illegal guns.

Since Trump started increasing the federal law enforcement presence in Washington last week, more than 100 arrests have been made, according to White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers. She claimed that President Trump is fulfilling his campaign pledge to revitalize this city and bring back American greatness to our beloved capital.

The president has activated up to 800 troops to assist law enforcement, though it is unclear exactly what form they would take. The president also has complete command of the National Guard.

Officials from the Army and the District of Columbia National Guard have not been able to provide information about the training histories of the soldiers who have reported for duty thus far.

Some members are military police, but others probably work in occupations that would not have provided them with much experience interacting with the public or law enforcement.

According to Trump, the federalization movement also include evicting homeless individuals from encampments. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, U.S. Park Police have taken down dozens of tents since March and will remove two more this week. According to her, people are given the option to visit shelters and receive addiction treatment if necessary, but those who decline risk fines or even jail time.

According to city officials, they are expanding their outreach and providing more shelter space.

Violent crime has dropped in the district

The federal initiative follows a decline in violent crime in the nation’s capital, which has been observed by specialists across U.S. cities since a spike during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to Adam Gelb, president and CEO of the nonprofit Council on Criminal Justice, the average level of violence in Washington is still far higher than the averages in three dozen cities that the group examined.

In an interview with the local Fox affiliate, Police Chief Pamela Smith stated that the Metro Police Department had lost around 800 policemen. At least for the time being, she added, the more federal agents on the streets would help close that difference.

In a meeting with Trump’s attorney general, Pam Bondi, and other senior federal law enforcement officials on Tuesday, Mayor Muriel Bowser claimed city authorities were not given any clear objectives for the surge. However, she stated that we also consider it a victory to be more visible and remove more firearms off the streets.

In the past, she had described Trump’s actions as disturbing and unprecedented, but she also pointed out that he was within his legal powers with relation to the district, which is the seat of the US government but not a state.

The increased presence of National Guard troops and law enforcement is unsettling for some locals.

Sheina Taylor, a native of Washington, stated, “I’ve seen them right here at the subway… they actually blocked off my street where I live yesterday.” Even though you’re a law-abiding citizen, you don’t know here in D.C., especially since I’m African American, so it’s more frightening now.

Contributors to this article were video journalist River Zhang, photographer Jacquelyn Martin, and Associated Press reporters Konstantin Toropin and Will Weissert.