President Donald Trump has announced a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC and hinted at similar moves in other US cities, citing high crime rates. 'You look at Chicago, how bad it is. You look at Los Angeles, how bad it is,' he said. However, experts and local officials have swiftly countered his claims, pointing to FBI data showing dramatic decreases in violent crime since the pandemic peak.
Crime analyst Jeff Asher noted that every category of crime covered by the FBI is dropping nationwide, with no disparity between red and blue cities. The downward trend has been consistent since around 2022, as the country recovered from Covid-19. Ames Grawert of the Brennan Center for Justice said the pandemic-era crime spike has largely reversed.
While Trump blames cities for crime, officials in Chicago, Baltimore, and New York have pushed back, citing local data. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reported a 40% drop in shootings over the past year and called on Trump to release funding for anti-violence programs instead of sending in the National Guard. A joint statement from Maryland leaders called Trump's narrative 'pure lies' and noted a 40% drop in violent crime since 2021. New York Mayor Eric Adams insisted the city has the finest police department and needs no takeover.
Even Trump's FBI director, Kash Patel, admitted on Joe Rogan's podcast in June that murder rates are on track for a historic low this year. Critics argue that Trump's real harm comes from slashing federal grants for violence prevention and victims services, which are crucial for continued progress. The Justice Department cancelled hundreds of grants affecting organizations in 37 states.
Rachel Eisenberg of the Center for American Progress said communities are best served by empowering local partners and investing in young people, not by federal takeovers. She stressed that while crime has improved, sustained investment is needed to maintain public safety gains.
