| President Donald Trump declared a public safety emergency in Washington, DC, on Monday and announced a federal takeover of the city’s police department. The administration will also deploy the National Guard as part of a push to “take our capital back” from what he described as rampant crime and homelessness. Official data from DC’s Metropolitan Police department show that violent crime in the city fell to a 30-year low in 2024. Under DC’s “home rule” law — which allows the city of 700,000 to elect a mayor and city council members — the president is able to temporarily seize control of the city’s police during a state of emergency. After 30 days, Congress would have to authorize the action. Trump stopped short of overriding home rule, which would also require congressional approval. The announcement comes after Trump increased federal law enforcement patrol in DC in response to news of an attempted carjacking on a former Department of Government Efficiency staff member. In March, he signed an executive order to make DC “safe and beautiful.” On Monday he stepped up his rhetoric: “Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.” He also blamed Democratic leaders for being “weak” on crime, and lashed out at cash-bail reform. The president reiterated his push to “beautify” the nation’s capital by “getting rid of slums.” In July, Trump signed an executive order calling on cities and states to take action to remove homeless people from the streets and put them into treatment — a shift from the housing-first approach pushed by anti-homelessness advocates. Read more from Hadriana Lowenkron today on CityLab: Trump Deploys National Guard to DC, Takes Control of City Police — Linda Poon | 
