Trump Deploys Federal Forces to D.C. Amid Crime Concerns

National Guard, ICE, FBI Agents Eyed for Increased Presence

President Donald Trump‘s administration is planning a significant boost in federal law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., on Thursday and Friday. This move follows a recent assault on a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer. Sources indicate that agents from ICE, FBI, and the National Guard, alongside local Department of Homeland Security personnel, are slated for deployment.

Executive Order Fuels Deployment Rationale

A senior White House official stated that the increased presence is also a direct response to President Trump’s March executive order, titled “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful.” The order mandates strict enforcement of all quality-of-life, nuisance, and public-safety laws, encompassing offenses from assault to public intoxication. “The assault just further underscores the need for a greater law enforcement presence in DC,” the official commented.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment, telling CNN, “Washington, DC is an amazing city, but it has sadly been plagued by petty and violent crime for far too long. President Trump is committed to making our Nation’s capital safer and even more beautiful for its residents, lawmakers, and visitors from all around the world.”

Crime Statistics Paint a Different Picture

Despite Trump‘s assertions of rising crime in the capital, preliminary data from the DC Police Department shows a decrease in crime numbers for 2025 compared to the previous year. As of Wednesday, violent crime is reportedly down by 26% according to DC Police.

Earlier this week, Trump publicly considered taking over the D.C. Police Department and deploying the National Guard. He told reporters, “We’re going to beautify the city. We’re going to make it beautiful. And what a shame, the rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else. We’re not going to let it, and that includes bringing in the National Guard maybe very quickly too.”

The D.C. National Guard, comprising over 2,700 soldiers and airmen, reports directly to the President. This potential deployment follows Trump‘s earlier use of thousands of Guard members in Los Angeles in response to protests over immigration enforcement. California Governor Gavin Newsom had previously criticized that deployment.

In February, **Trump** also expressed a desire for federal control over the District, stating to reporters aboard Air Force One, “I think that we should govern District of Columbia. It’s so important, the DC situation. I think that we should run it strong, run it with law and order.”