❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal agents are increasing their presence in Washington, D.C., following President Trump’s directive to address crime in the city.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald Trump, federal law enforcement agencies, and local officials.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Starting Friday, in high-traffic and crime-prone areas of Washington, D.C.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C. President Trump is committed to making our Nation’s capital safer,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
🎯IMPACT: The operation aims to deter crime and increase safety in the nation’s capital.
Federal agents are set to have a larger presence in Washington, D.C., starting Friday after President Donald J. Trump criticized the city’s violent crime rate and vowed to restore order in the nation’s capital. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced late Thursday that the increased law enforcement presence is aimed at protecting citizens in a city she described as “plagued by violent crime for far too long.”
“Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C. President Trump is committed to making our Nation’s capital safer for its residents, lawmakers, and visitors from all around the world,” Leavitt said. The seven-day operation—expected to begin Friday and led by the U.S. Park Police—will focus on high-traffic areas and crime hot spots.
Participating officers will include personnel from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The operation begins at 12 AM ET on Friday and could extend beyond the initial weeklong period. Officers will be visibly marked and stationed in prominent locations.
President Trump recently signed an Executive Order titled “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,” which directs federal resources toward enforcing immigration laws and prosecuting violent crimes. Trump also criticized local officials for their handling of crime, citing a recent carjacking incident involving former Department of Government Efficiency employee Edward Coristine, who was violently assaulted. On Truth Social, Trump stated, “The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14.”
Trump has also hinted at a potential federal takeover of D.C.’s governance, suggesting that White House lawyers are reviewing the Home Rule Act of 1973, which grants the city limited self-governance. “If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City,” Trump warned.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.