Federal law enforcement beefs up DC presence after Trump crime rate criticism

WASHINGTON — Federal agents are expected to have a much stronger and visible presence on the streets of Washington starting Friday following several days of President Donald Trump’s bashing the city’s crime rate.

“President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Thursday, saying the city “has been plagued by violent crime for far too long.”

“Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C. President Trump is committed to making our Nation’s capital safer for its residents, lawmakers, and visitors from all around the world,” she added.

A White House official said the seven-day effort, led by the U.S. Park Police, will focus on high-traffic tourist areas and other hot spots in the nation’s capital.

Federal officers “will be identified, in marked units, and highly visible,” the official said, adding that the operation could extend beyond the weeklong period.

Participating agents and officers will come from the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service, among others, the official said.

The number of participating agents was not specified.

It’s also unclear whether they have been directed to engage in “activity” beyond typical duties or what their role would be beyond being present on federal property, a Washington official said.

Trump signed an executive order this year known as “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful,” which directs a task force to ensure federal involvement in enforcing U.S. immigration law, shifting available resources toward deporting undocumented immigrants in the Washington area and reviewing federal prosecution policies tied to pretrial detention, among other matters.

Trump in recent days has decried “crime” in the district, even though local police data shows violent crime is down 26% compared with last year.

Trump has specifically cited a recent attack on Edward Coristine, a former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency also known by his online name, “Big Balls,” who was the victim of a carjacking and an assault last weekend, a police report said. Police later arrested two 15-year-olds from Maryland.

Trump wrote Tuesday on Truth Social that “the Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these ‘minors’ as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14.”

“If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore,” he added. “If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.”

Trump has threatened a federal takeover of the Washington government, saying this week that White House lawyers are examining whether Congress should overturn a law known as the Home Rule Act of 1973, which empowers residents to elect their own mayor and City Council members.

Monica Alba and Laura Strickler reported from Washington and Zoë Richards from New York City.