President Donald Trump has ordered a seven-day federal law enforcement crackdown on violent crime in Washington DC, beginning on Thursday night, following an attempted carjacking that injured a former administration staffer. The White House announced an increased presence of federal officers in high-traffic tourist areas, involving multiple agencies including the US Park Police, ICE, and the FBI.
The operation, branded as part of the 'Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force' established in March, comes despite city police data showing violent crime in Washington hit a 30-year low in 2024 and continued to decline in the first half of 2025. Critics, including the Washington Legal Clinic, raised concerns that the operation could target homeless individuals, noting a lack of available shelter space.
On the first night of the deployment, reports suggested minimal federal agent presence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives posted on social media that officers were 'out ensuring that the residents of the District of Columbia are safer this evening.' The White House said the seven-day operation could be extended as needed.
