Some of the 800 National Guard members deployed by President Donald Trump began arriving in Washington DC on Tuesday. The deployment follows Trump’s Monday
night announcement declaring a “crime emergency” in Washington, DC, and using his authority to take over the city’s police for up to 30 days. The White House said the decision was necessary to make the city safer. Mayor Muriel Bowser, while previously calling the takeover unnecessary, said she will cooperate to ensure the extra officers are used effectively.
Declining Crime Rates VS Federal Intervention
Bowser and city leaders said violent crime has dropped significantly in the past year, as per Associated Press report. Homicides, carjackings, and other serious offenses are down, with carjackings falling by about 50% in 2024 and continuing to drop this year.
Trump’s administration, however, argued that crime remains a major problem, particularly involving juveniles, and said the city needs a stronger federal response.
Arrests And Homeless Encampment Removals
In the first night of the new operation, about 850 officers and agents made 23 arrests for crimes including homicide, drunk driving, drug and gun offences, and fare evasion. Officials said that the US Park Police have removed 70 homeless encampments in recent months, offering shelter and treatment to those displaced.
Those who refuse assistance, the White House said, could face fines or jail time.
This is not the first clash between Bowser and Trump. During his first term, they frequently disagreed over federal intervention in the city, including during the 2020 protests. At the time, Bowser resisted Trump’s deployment of federal officers and criticized his law-and-order tactics.
Now in Trump’s second term, with Republicans controlling Congress, Bowser faces fewer ways to push back.
Trump is the first president to invoke Section 740 of the law to take over Washington’s police for up to 30 days. Extending this control would require Congress’s approval, a tough hurdle given expected Democratic opposition.
