President Trump invoked Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act on August 11, 2025, declaring a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., and placed the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control. He also deployed up to 800 National Guard troops to assist in law enforcement operations. The federalization is, in effect, the first time the president has exercised that power over the D.C. police force.

Official MPD statistics show that from 2024 to 2025, violent crime in the district declined by about 26 %. In the week after the federal takeover began, MPD and federal reports say violent crime dropped 17 %, property crime fell 19 %, and robberies and car break‑ins plunged over 40 %. However, not all crime categories declined: assaults with a dangerous weapon rose by 14 %, burglaries increased by 6 %, and two homicides occurred in that week (though none have been reported since August 13).

Despite those data, many residents and media figures argue crime continues daily near downtown and in neighborhoods. ABC’s Kyra Phillips shared she was assaulted within blocks of her studio, and two coworkers were recent crime victims.Local criticisms point to a disconnect: people’s lived experience in neighborhoods may not match city‑wide averages. In addition, ICE arrests have surged: over 300 undocumented individuals have reportedly been detained since August 7, embedded with MPD operations—a marked jump from prior weeks.

The federal intervention has drawn legal and civil liberties pushback. The ACLU of D.C. called the takeover “unnecessary,” pointing out that crime is already trending downward and warning of potential overreach and intimidation under federal control. Local leaders have also condemned the move as an affront to D.C. home rule.  Meanwhile, some internal reports suggest investigations into whether MPD crime data were distorted or manipulated prior to the federal takeover.