August 11, 2025
Trump federalizes DC police despite city hitting 30-year crime low
Military occupation begins despite safest crime statistics in decades
🔐Ethics🏙️Local Issues⚖️Justice
President Trump seized control of Washington DC's Metropolitan Police Department on August 11, 2025, using Section 740 of the Home Rule Act and deploying 800 National Guard troops to patrol the capital's streets.
Trump claimed DC had become "a situation of complete and total lawlessness" requiring federal intervention, but government data shows violent crime in DC hit a 30-year low with citizens' rights groups documenting over 1,000 arrests during the federalization period while constitutional scholars challenge the unprecedented use of emergency powers for non-emergency situations.
Trump federalized DC police and deployed 800 National Guard troops August 11, 2025, claiming violent crime made DC a situation of complete lawlessness despite 30-year crime lows
Mayor Bowser defended city's progress citing 35% violent crime decline in 2024 and 32% homicide reduction, while Trump cited outdated 2023 peak numbers to justify takeover
Federal and local authorities maintain separate databases allowing each side to cherry-pick favorable statistics while hiding unfavorable crime data from public scrutiny
Washington Post polling shows DC residents feel less safe despite heavy military presence, suggesting the occupation creates more anxiety than the crime it supposedly addresses
Academic researchers from Georgetown and American University report being systematically denied access to raw crime data needed for independent verification
Justice Department opened investigation into whether DC police manipulated statistics after Trump claimed on social media that city provided fake crime numbers
Independent journalists cannot fact-check either side's claims due to restricted database access, leaving residents with competing propaganda instead of reliable safety information
🔐Ethics🏙️Local Issues⚖️Justice
People, bills, and sources
Donald Trump
President of the United States
Muriel Bowser
Mayor of Washington DC
Pam Bondi
U.S. Attorney General
Robert Contee
DC Police Chief
What You Can Do
1
Call DC Council at 202-724-8032 demanding immediate release of raw crime data to independent researchers for transparent analysis
2
Contact Washington Post Metro desk at 202-334-6000 supporting investigative reporting on crime data manipulation by both federal and local authorities
3
File Freedom of Information Act requests at foia.gov for federal and DC crime databases, methodologies, and communications about statistical reporting
4
Join DC residents at monthly ANC meetings to document actual neighborhood safety experiences vs. competing official statistics
5
Contact Georgetown Public Policy Institute at 202-687-5756 supporting academic research on crime trends blocked by data restrictions
6
Attend DC Council meetings every Tuesday 10am, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW demanding transparency in crime reporting during military occupation