Former President Donald Trump has already laid out plans to take his federal war on crime national. He proposes to address cities’ litter problems in Chicago and NYC. This declaration follows his recent command of the Washington, D.C. police department, where he has deployed the National Guard amid growing concerns over crime and homelessness in the capital. Now, local leaders are left to counter Trump’s extreme measures, in the name of solving a crisis that the administration is creating.
Trump says there is a swamp in Washington, D.C., and he’s not wrong. To that, he’s responded in radical ways, like his recent move to seize control of the Metropolitan Police Department. He painted this decision as a victory, even though it was met with strong opposition from local officials who say it usurps their power. The former president emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “When ready, we will start in Chicago … Chicago is a mess.”
America first meant taking audacious actions in Washington, D.C. He simultaneously federalized the California National Guard, deploying troops into targeted neighborhoods of LA against Governor Gavin Newsom’s will. Nearly 2,000 National Guard members are currently stationed in Washington, D.C., providing support to local law enforcement in patrolling the streets.
Animal welfare advocates and local authorities have long decried the circumstances. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott went as far as to directly call out Trump for “singling out Black cities” to threaten with federal storm troopers. Scott’s comments reflect growing concerns about the implications of Trump’s actions on communities already facing significant challenges.
Trump’s administration has advanced new policies linking to story or return to the series overview. Jeanine Pirro, formerly the top federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia, is leading the charge. She’s directed her office to seek the highest possible charges on the recent arrests. For one, she has directed prosecutors to stop chasing felony charges against people solely for being in possession of a rifle or shotgun. Yet this decision does not apply to violent crimes or those involving persons who are otherwise banned from possessing firearms.
Washington, D.C.’s attorney general office has been critical. It oversees all federal prosecutions as well as local District prosecutions, since the District is not considered a state. This dual responsibility complicates efforts to understand law enforcement’s enforcement of the law and how federal interventions often clash with local home rule.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is actively militarizing security in the capital. He has directed that National Guard troops now patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C. under a federal military dictatorship be armed. The proposed legislation, in a roundabout way, has prompted questions about the militarization of law enforcement and its effect on police-community relations since Missouri Rep.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore recently noted that crime is going down in Baltimore in part because of community violence prevention efforts. His remarks bring to light the dangerous tug-of-war that lies between local, community-based crime response and the heavy hand of federal interference.
Tempers are flaring in America’s largest cities, all stoked by the kind division that President Trump has chosen to pour fuel on. Local leaders are not rolling over against what they perceive to be federal government overreach. The response from community members and leaders across Chicago and New York will likely shape future discussions regarding crime control and city governance.