Federal officers were out in greater numbers across Washington, D.C., on Friday after President Donald Trump repeated his threat to take control of the city’s police department — and possibly the entire D.C. government.
Early Friday, News4 reporters saw a heavy law enforcement presence outside Union Station. More than 120 federal officers from the FBI, the ATF, and over a dozen other agencies patrolled busy parts of the city. The ATF even posted a photo on social media showing officers pulling over a car on Georgia Avenue.
The D.C. National Guard has not been called in. Local and federal law enforcement officials held a conference call Thursday night, but sources say the meeting lacked a clear plan. The only firm order was for federal agencies to focus patrols on visible, high-traffic areas. The U.S. Park Police are leading the operation.
The White House said the increased patrols are meant to fight crime. “President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, adding that there would be “no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C.”
Mayor Muriel Bowser has not commented. People in her administration say they are thankful for the extra help but hope it’s only temporary.
President Trump has talked before about repealing the 1973 Home Rule Act, which allows D.C. to govern itself, and putting the city back under full federal control. That would require Congress to act and could face major opposition.
The latest push for more police came after a Department of Government Efficiency staffer, Edward Coristine — known as “Big Balls” — was attacked in an attempted carjacking last weekend. Two 15-year-olds were arrested, and police are looking for others involved.
“If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, we will have no choice but to take federal control of the city,” Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this week.
The seven-day operation is being run under Trump’s “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force” order, with officers in marked vehicles and uniforms. Agencies involved include the U.S. Capitol Police, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals, and Amtrak and Metro police.
City crime numbers have recently improved. Carjackings dropped from nearly 1,000 in 2023 to under 500 in 2024, and the total so far in 2025 is less than 200.
