A Look at D.C.'s Unique History and Why Presidents Can Wield Control of Law Enforcement

A look why presidents can control D.C.'s law enforcement

Some of the more than 2,000 National Guard troops on duty in Washington, D.C., are now armed, part of a crackdown that President Trump once again claimed was needed to help curb crime in the city. While he threatened similar actions in other cities, including Chicago and New York, his power to consolidate law enforcement in the nation’s capital is unique. Deema Zein explains.

A look at D.C.'s unique history and why presidents can wield control of law enforcement

Some of the more than 2,000 National Guard troops on duty in Washington, D.C., are now armed, part of a crackdown that President Trump once again claimed was needed to help curb crime in the city. While he threatened similar actions in other cities, including Chicago and New York, his power to consolidate law enforcement in the nation’s capital is unique. Deema Zein explains.

D.C. Crime Needs More Than a Takeover

As a former police officer, I’ve seen firsthand how both crime and criminals have changed since my days on the beat. Today, drugs, untreated mental illness, and a wholesale devaluing of human life drive the violence we see in our cities. But these social pathologies are symptoms of something deeper. President Donald Trump has once again drawn the ire of the left and the legacy media for exercising his statutory authority to federalize the Metrop…

D.C. Reporting Stunning Drops in Violent Crime Rates Since Trump Federalized D.C.’s Law Enforcement. Robbery down 46%, Carjackings down 83%, Violent Crime down 22%.

Who would have thought it? Adding more police to the streets, reducing restrictions on policing, and targeting illegal aliens do cut crime. The D.C. police union reports that crime fell sharply during the 14 days after President Trump announced the federalization of law enforcement in D.C., compared to the 14 days before. This Tweet by the police officers’ union was posted at 6:39 AM ET, August 25, 2025.