The White House said 450 officers from multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, were deployed in the country’s capital on August 9 and August 10.
Trump sends federal agents to DC amid youth crime concerns
President Donald Trump deployed federal agents to DC and called for minors to be prosecuted as adults amid criminal concerns in his administration.
The Trump administration uses hundreds of federal police officers to target Washington, D.C. crime as part of President Donald Trump’s public safety push in the country’s capital.
The White House said 450 officers from multiple federal agencies were deployed in heavy traffic DC areas and other hot spots on August 9 and 10. Officers came from 18 agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Bureau and the Secret Service.
Trump ordered an increase in law enforcement presence in D.C. on August 8 after complaining about crimes in the city, even if violent crimes declined. Violent crime fell by 35% in DC in 2024, according to data compiled by DC Metropolitan Police.
The 2024 figures marked the lowest level of violent crime in “over 30 years,” the District of Columbia’s U.S. Lawyers’ Office said in a news release.
The Washington Post and the New York Times report that the Trump administration is temporarily relocating 120 FBI agents to Patrol Street on DC Street. Asked about the report, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told USA Today that “there is an increase in the number of federal law enforcement officials in DC in response to violent crimes.” This includes the FBI.”
“In just a few nights, federal law enforcement officials have already played a key role in deterring crime, arresting criminals and obtaining dangerous drugs and weapons from the streets,” Jackson added.
Trump appears to be poised to take further federal actions to deal with crime in the capital. He teased at a White House press conference on August 11th about “crime and ‘glorification’.”
“It will not only end the crime, murder and death in our country’s capital, but it will also involve the cleanliness and general physical renovations and conditions of the once beautifully maintained capital,” Trump said in a social media post.
According to Trump, the initiative will also target homeless individuals in the city.
“Homeless people must leave immediately,” Trump warned on social media. “We will give you a place to stay, but we are far from the capital.”
