For weeks, the nation’s capital has been at the heart of a contentious debate over the federal government’s role in tackling urban crime. Now, as the dust settles and the data rolls in, even some of the most skeptical voices are acknowledging the impact of President Donald Trump’s controversial law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C. According to figures released by the Metropolitan Police Department and Joint Task Force District of Columbia, the results are striking: violent crime in D.C. has plummeted, with carjackings, robberies, and homicides all dropping dramatically since the operation began in early August 2025.
At a Wednesday press conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser—who initially warned that Trump’s deployment of federal agents and National Guard troops would be “unsettling and unprecedented”—publicly credited the federal crackdown for the sharp downturn in crime. “We greatly appreciate the surge of officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city,” Bowser said, as reported by Fox News. She pointed to one particularly eye-catching statistic: “For carjackings, the difference between this period, this 20-day period of this federal surge and last year represents an 87% reduction in carjackings in Washington, D.C.”
The mayor’s remarks marked a notable shift from her earlier, more apprehensive stance. Bowser’s office confirmed that, compared to the same week last year, carjackings are down 60%, robberies by 56%, and overall violent crime by 58%. Since the start of the federal surge, violent crime has dipped by 27%, and compared to last year, it’s down 45%. The numbers, provided by the Associated Press and Joint Task Force District of Columbia, paint a picture of a city transformed—at least for now—by an unprecedented level of federal intervention.
What did this crackdown actually look like? In early August, President Trump announced the deployment of National Guard troops and assumed a greater degree of oversight over the Metropolitan Police Department. The operation brought in a wide array of federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Park Police, and Capitol Police, all working in concert to bolster local efforts. By August 27, 2,258 Guardsmen were deployed across the District—nearly 1,000 from the D.C. National Guard and more than 1,300 from out of state. Troops supported law enforcement near the National Mall, Metro stops, and the Library of Congress, providing a visible and, according to city leaders, effective deterrent to would-be criminals.
According to the Joint Task Force District of Columbia, the presence of the National Guard has not just been about numbers. There have been tangible moments of intervention—like two South Carolina Guardsmen escorting a distraught woman safely to her Metro platform after she reported being aggressively followed. Such stories, while anecdotal, have helped humanize a force that many initially viewed with suspicion.
Still, not every aspect of the federal crackdown has been met with applause. Bowser, while praising the results, was quick to criticize some of the tactics used. She voiced concerns about “a break in trust between police and community, especially with new federal partners in our community,” and specifically called out the use of masked ICE agents in neighborhoods. “Having more federal law enforcement officers on the street—we think having more stops that got to illegal guns has helped. We think that there is more accountability in the system, or at least perceived accountability in the system, that is driving down illegal behavior,” Bowser explained at the press conference, as reported by Fox News. But she also cautioned that relying on out-of-state National Guard troops was inefficient and that the city still needs more local police officers, prosecutors, judges, and prevention programs.
As the D.C. operation appears to wind down, attention has shifted to Chicago, where President Trump has signaled that a similar federal crackdown could soon be underway. The Trump administration has reportedly asked Naval Station Great Lakes, just north of Chicago, for logistical support to aid potential operations, a move first reported by Fox News and the Associated Press. While no final decision has been made, the request suggests the White House is preparing to escalate federal involvement in the nation’s third-largest city.
The possibility of a Chicago crackdown has split local leaders. Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson have voiced strong opposition, arguing that the city is already making progress—citing a 32% drop in homicides this year and the lowest April homicide numbers since 1962. “The City of Chicago is not calling for the occupation of our city,” Johnson declared. “It’s illegal and it’s unconstitutional.” Pritzker dismissed the threat as “about Donald Trump searching for any justification to deploy the military in a blue city.”
Not everyone in Chicago is opposed, however. Businessman and former mayoral candidate Willie Wilson publicly urged Trump to send in the National Guard, citing ongoing violence on the city’s South and West sides. “Anybody that comes in to help save life, whether they’re Republican, Democrat … I welcome it,” Wilson said, breaking with the vast majority of city leaders. On the other hand, Alderman Nick Sposato, the City Council’s strongest Trump supporter, called the plan “a recipe for disaster,” while former Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy warned that Guard troops aren’t trained for day-to-day policing.
Legally, the deployment of the National Guard to Chicago would require a request from the governor. However, President Trump has threatened to deploy troops regardless, citing extreme circumstances such as insurrections as justification. Chicago officials, for their part, say they’re prepared to challenge any unilateral action in court and are already preparing for potential protests and safeguarding measures should the federal operation move forward.
Back in Washington, D.C., the debate over federal intervention has taken a new turn. Bowser, when prompted by a reporter, even suggested that Trump’s push to seize greater control of Union Station could be a “good thing,” arguing that the station is an important regional and national asset in desperate need of investment. “It is appropriate, in my view, for the federal government to make the necessary investments in the transformation of Union Station,” she said.
As the conversation around federal anti-crime crackdowns continues to evolve, the experience in Washington, D.C. offers a complex case study. While the numbers suggest that the surge has made neighborhoods safer, the debate over tactics, local control, and the balance between security and civil liberties is far from settled. With Chicago potentially next in line, the nation will be watching closely to see whether the dramatic results seen in the capital can be replicated—and at what cost.
