Federal questions unfold in DC

The president signals possible federal policing changes in D.C. while pushing homelessness policy and asserting the capital should be under federal control.

Trump pushes federal takeover of Washington and demands homeless removal

President Trump used Truth Social to call for the immediate removal of homeless people from Washington DC, saying they should be moved far away. He also floated a federal takeover of the capital and teased a Monday press conference aimed at ending crime, murder, and death in the city. The posts came as the administration expanded federal law enforcement presence in the district after a weekend incident involving a former government employee.

Legal experts say a full federalization of Washington would require Congress to change a 1973 law that preserves local governance. The White House also signaled it could deploy the Metropolitan Police for federal purposes in an emergency, but the legal path remains unclear. On the ground, officials noted a growing federal presence while crime data showed D.C. trending down: robberies down about 29 percent year to date and overall violent crime down around 26 percent as of early August. Homeless counts stood around 5,138, a 9 percent decline from last year, though counts have fluctuated over the decade.

The moves expose a deeper political fault line over who decides how a city is policed and who shoulders the burden of homelessness. Framing homelessness as a safety threat to justify federal action risks sidelining civil rights concerns and local accountability. The rhetoric also tests Washington DC’s status as a capital with a unique governance balance between local elections and federal influence. If the public reacts strongly, it could widen divisions between supporters who see a crackdown as crime relief and critics who view the approach as punitive and legally fraught.

Beyond legal questions, the episode highlights how political theater can shape policy even when crime data suggests progress. Local leaders say crime is falling and point to ongoing cooperation with federal partners. The coming days will reveal whether rhetoric translates into policy or remains a high-stakes bargaining chip that could unsettle residents and lawmakers alike.

Highlights

The balance between safety and civil liberties will shape the district’s future.