U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Sunday shared new crime numbers for Washington, D.C., as the Trump administration continues its crackdown, which includes sending about 2,000 National Guard troops to the city.
In a post on X, Bondi said that 76 people were arrested on Saturday during Labor Day weekend.
Why It Matters
Tensions are high in the capital after President Donald Trump deployed 800 National Guard troops to clear homeless people from the streets and reduce crime. Some states sent their own National Guard troops to help, bringing the total to about 2,000.
The six states sending troops are West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Ohio.
According to FBI data, Washington, D.C. has a higher crime rate against people than some of the most populated states, like California, New York, and Texas.
Under former President Joe Biden, the Justice Department reported in January 2025 that total violent crime in 2024 was at its lowest level in more than 30 years, based on Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) statistics.
What To Know
The New York Times reported on Friday that crime in Washington has dropped since Trump sent in troops, though many arrests were for minor offenses. In about two weeks, roughly 1,000 people were arrested, with about one-third of those arrests involving federal forces.
Bondi posted a graphic on Sunday showing the number of arrests increased to 1,528. This included 156 illegal guns seized, two arrests for threats against law enforcement, one arrest for assault on federal officers with threats to kill the president, and an MS-13 gang member.
This followed about 80 arrests and 11 illegal firearms seized overnight Friday.
“This Labor Day weekend, our nation’s capital is a safer place thanks to our DC and Federal law enforcement partners,” Bondi said in a post on X on Saturday.
Trump has also shared updates about crime in Washington. On Friday, he said carjacking was down 87 percent and that “all other categories of crime are likewise down massively since I got involved.”
“DC will soon be a crime FREE ZONE, in only 14 days, far faster than scheduled,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that total crime was down 19 percent and violent crime down 30 percent, claiming the model used in Washington “can be replicated in other crime-ridden cities across the nation.”
Newsweek could not confirm these numbers and reached out to the MPD for verification.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported Sunday that robberies increased over the weekend, with seven holdups in less than 12 hours from Friday into Saturday.
After the National Guard deployment—called “Federal Surge data” by the MPD—violent crime dropped roughly 50 percent, with an overall 40 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024 (August 7-30).
The largest drop was in carjackings, down 82 percent, from 33 cases in 2024 to six in 2025. Overall arrests rose 24 percent, and calls for help increased 15 percent.
Property crimes saw a smaller decrease of about 11 percent, with total crime down around 14 percent. Violent crimes remain relatively few, with 226 in 2024 and 135 in 2025, mostly robberies. Assault with a deadly weapon stayed almost the same, with 60 cases in 2024 and 61 in 2025.
Property crimes make up most crimes in Washington, with 1,745 in 2024 and 1,561 this year since the National Guard arrived.
As of Friday, MPD reported that violent crime year-to-date fell about 27 percent from 2024 to 2025. Property crimes dropped about 5 percent, with burglary and arson decreasing 22 and 33 percent, respectively. Motor vehicle theft and other thefts dropped 4 to 5 percent, for an overall total crime decrease of about 8 percent.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: “DC is virtually, in just 14 days, a CRIME FREE ZONE. The people living and working there are ecstatic!!! President DJT.”
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on X: “When kids are getting shot in their pews at a catholic school mass and your crime plan is to have national guard put mulch down around DC maybe rethink your strategy.”
Representative Jasmine Crockett, a Texas Democrat, wrote on X: “I wonder why the grand jury in DC failed to indict the subway sandwich thrower… I mean this has to be the biggest crime ever committed in DC! LMAO, DC residents clearly aren’t ok with being the pawns that everyone else around Trump have decided to be! DC STATEHOOD NOW!”
What Happens Next?
National Guard members are expected to remain in Washington, D.C., until the end of next month.
