On August 6, President Donald Trump said he was considering the federal government's takeover of local police forces in Washington, D.C., and could send the National Guard to deal with the city's crime.
Trump's statement comes as a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employee, Edward Coristine, was attacked last weekend.
In an interview at the White House, Mr. Trump said that Washington is currently very unsafe, and affirmed that he will not let the rate of robbery, murder and everything else increase in the US capital.
One way to put down the situation is the arrival of the National Guard, Trump said, stressing that it could happen very quickly.
When asked whether taking over the Urban Police Department was an option, Trump replied yes.
However, according to preliminary data from the Department of Police, violent crimes in Washington have fallen 26% this year.
Notably, this is not the first time the Trump administration has intended to deploy the National Guard in Washington.
After protests over the George Floyd murder in 2020, some became violent. At that time, the National Guard was deployed, despite opposition from Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Mr Trump has long expressed his desire to take control of the Washington administration because the region has limited self-management capabilities, in which laws and budgets have to be monitored by Congress.
The partial takeover of the Columbia Special Zone may include a unilateral takeover of the police force.
However, to realize this, the federal government needs the National Assembly to pass the repeal of the 1973 Internal Affairs Agency - the act that gives residents the right to elect their own city government. Furthermore, both the House and the Senate will need to vote to abolish the law.
Washington prosecutor Jeanine Pirro has expressed her support for President Trump if he decides to let the federal government take over the local police force. Its up to the president, Pirro said.
