President Donald Trump announced a significant move towards a federal takeover of law enforcement in the District of Columbia, declaring his intention to deploy the National Guard and invoke a little-known provision of the city’s charter to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department. This decision stems from his assertion that the nation’s capital has become plagued by crime, chaos, and disarray.
Critics, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, refuted Trump’s claims, emphasizing the decline in violent crime rates over the past year. Bowser labeled any comparisons to a war-torn nation as exaggerated, arguing that the violence levels in Washington are nowhere near that dire.
However, the circumstances surrounding crime in D.C. are more nuanced than either the president or the mayor portrays. While Mayor Bowser correctly points out that violence has diminished, the issue of crime remains deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, indicating that more strategic intervention is required.
During the pandemic, as was the case in many major urban areas, D.C. witnessed a notable uptick in violent crime. Data from crime researcher Jeff Asher reveals a peak in homicides during December 2023, with a consistent decline afterward. Though the totals for 2025 up to now mirror pre-pandemic levels from 2019, the broader historical context reveals disturbing trends.
Before the pandemic’s onset, D.C.’s murder rate had been rising consistently, and despite the recent downward trend, the murder rate by the end of 2024 remained approximately 70% higher than it was a decade ago. While carjackings are experiencing a decrease, they still represent a higher frequency compared to pre-2020 rates. Additionally, contrasts in the city’s official violent crime statistics compared to FBI data show that the overall crime reduction is more gradual than it seems.
Community sentiment about crime in D.C. starkly contrasts with the statistical data. Approximately 65% of residents surveyed in The Washington Post expressed that crime remained a serious concern last year, despite recognizing the recent decline in violent incidents.
This disparity may stem from a perceived rise in public disorder, including minor offenses like vagrancy and shoplifting, which contribute to residents’ fears and perceptions of safety. According to a report I authored last summer for the Manhattan Institute, alarming trends have emerged, such as rising unsheltered homelessness and an increase in sanitation complaints directed to the city’s 311 service. Trump’s remarks regarding persistent
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