Trump Considers Deploying National Guard to Address D.C. Crime Surge

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President Donald Trump is weighing the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., following a violent assault on a federal employee, citing ongoing concerns about crime and local governance.

In remarks delivered after a staffer from the Department of Government Efficiency was attacked in the nation’s capital, Trump described the city as increasingly unsafe and suggested it may be necessary for the federal government to take direct control of policing. He asserted that Washington, D.C., must be run by the federal government if local leaders fail to maintain public safety, warning that “drastic measures” could soon be taken.

Despite the strong rhetoric, recent statistics show a 26 percent drop in violent crime and a 7 percent decrease in overall reported incidents in the city this year. Still, Trump argued that perception and visible disorder continue to undermine public confidence and national image, especially given the city’s significance as the seat of federal power.

Trump’s comments signal renewed interest in bypassing the Home Rule Act, which grants D.C. local authority, raising legal and constitutional questions. Any move to federalize D.C. law enforcement would likely require congressional involvement and face legal scrutiny.

The remarks have added to the ongoing debate over the balance of power between local leadership and federal oversight in the capital, particularly in times of heightened concern over public safety.