Federal Death Penalty Reinstatement Considered as Crime Rates Fall in DC
Washington D.C., which abolished the death penalty in 1981 and hasn’t carried out an execution as 1957, may see its potential return.Recent announcements indicate a shift in federal policy allowing prosecutors to seek capital punishment for certain crimes within the District.
During a press conference held in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump asserted a significant improvement in Washington D.C.’s safety, claiming it has become ”the safest city” in just twelve days.
Alongside the President, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a broader initiative to pursue the death penalty nationwide. “We are not only seeking the death penalty here in Washington DC, but all over the country, again,” Bondi stated, according to CNN.
The Justice Department is also reportedly re-designating inmates previously removed from death row by President Biden to high-security “supermax” prisons. Bondi explained these inmates will effectively remain under the conditions of death row for the duration of their sentences.
Despite the renewed push for capital punishment, most murder cases in Washington D.C. are handled by the Superior Court, which does not permit the death penalty. Though, the US Attorney General retains the authority to pursue federal charges in cases where the death penalty is applicable.
Currently, 27 states maintain laws authorizing the death penalty, though the actual number of executions is lower due to moratoriums and extended periods without carrying out sentences.
The announcements follow the deployment of the National Guard to Washington D.C. this summer, aimed at curbing crime. Notably, violent crime statistics in 2024 were already at a 30-year low, and continued to decline in 2025.
Thursday’s actions also included the approval of the sale of TikTok‘s US business and the signing of a plan to address politically motivated violence following recent shooting incidents.
