Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser initially voiced concern over President Donald Trump’s plan to tackle rising crime in the nation’s capital, but the strategy’s effectiveness has since earned her acknowledgment.
After Trump announced the deployment of National Guard troops and federal oversight of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Bowser described the crackdown as “unsettling and unprecedented.”
However, at a press conference Wednesday, the mayor credited the federal surge with producing tangible results in one of America’s most crime-challenged cities.
Bowser highlighted a chart showing the combined efforts of FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Park Police, and Capitol Police in supporting MPD operations, stating, “We greatly appreciate the surge of officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city.”
She singled out a particularly striking outcome: “For carjackings, the difference between this 20-day federal surge and last year represents an 87% reduction in Washington, D.C. We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer. So, this surge has been important to us for that reason.”
Bowser outlined additional ways the federal surge has contributed to crime reduction. “In just a few weeks, we’ve seen the impact,” she said. “Having more federal law enforcement officers on the street, more stops that uncover illegal guns, and increased accountability — or at least the perception of it — has helped drive down illegal activity. We’ve had fewer gun crimes, fewer homicides, and an extreme reduction in carjackings.”
She also acknowledged areas where the strategy has fallen short, noting “a break in trust between police and community, especially with new federal partners in our community.” Bowser criticized the use of masked ICE agents in neighborhoods and the reliance on out-of-state National Guard troops as inefficient, emphasizing the continued need for more local police officers, prosecutors, judges, and prevention programs while maintaining local oversight.
When asked about Trump assuming greater control over Union Station, Bowser responded positively. “Union Station is owned by the Department of Transportation, and it will be a good thing because the station has needed, some say $12 billion, but at least $8 billion, in renovation. That’s not something the district alone could support,” she said. “It is an important regional and national asset, and in my view, it is appropriate for the federal government to make the necessary investments in transforming Union Station.”
