The National Guard is now on the streets of Washington, D.C., following President Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily take over policing in the city. The president cited worsening crime as his reason for the intervention, stating, “The crime situation in Washington, D.C., is getting worse, not getting better.”
However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser strongly pushed back, calling the move an intrusion on the District’s autonomy. “I am also really ticked off about the intrusion on the District’s autonomy and the characterization of the good work that we do in this city to make it beautiful, to attract millions of tourists, to have a growing school system, to have a growing city with new residents showing up every day. So that is the real Washington,” Bowser said.
Data from local law enforcement shows that violent crime, which spiked in 2023, actually declined in 2024 and has continued to drop so far in 2025. The president’s move has sparked debate about the federal government’s role in local policing and whether the takeover is justified.