Trump places DC police under federal control, deploys National Guard

Washington: President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is placing the Washington, D.C., police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard to enhance security in the nation’s capital.

Trump declared on social media that Washington would be “LIBERATED today!” and vowed to end what he called the “days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people.” This move marks a further step in his law enforcement agenda, following his aggressive measures to curb illegal border crossings.

The federal takeover involves deploying at least 500 federal law enforcement officers throughout Washington, including over 100 FBI agents and approximately 40 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Additional personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Marshals Service will also participate in the patrols, according to a source familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Justice Department did not provide immediate comment.

Trump’s announcement comes amid his promises to address homelessness and crime in Washington, a city with a unique congressional status as a federal district. However, the city’s mayor has expressed concerns about the potential use of the National Guard for street patrols. While Trump’s administration has emphasized a tough stance on crime, questions remain about how this federal intervention will interact with local authorities and whether it will effectively tackle the root causes of the city’s challenges.

With PTI inputs