Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Declares a Crime Emergency to Restore Safety in the District of Columbia

Summary:The Administration declared a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., citing elevated violent crime and risks to federal operations. The order requires the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to provide services for federal purposes, delegates direction to the Attorney General, and sets up monitoring and potential follow-on actions.Key Points:Emergency determination: Special conditions in D.C. require MPD support to maintain order, protect federal property, and ensure federal government functioning.Legal basis: Invokes section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act; authority to direct the Mayor is delegated to the Attorney General.Oversight: Attorney General will monitor conditions, provide regular updates to the President, and recommend further action or termination as warranted.Crime context: 2024 homicide rate exceeded 27 per 100,000; vehicle theft at 842.4 per 100,000—over three times the national average.Rationale: Rising violence threatens federal workers, recruitment, and public confidence; diverts critical resources and impedes effective federal operations.Administration commitments: Task force to “make D.C. safe and beautiful,” surge in law enforcement, infrastructure improvements, and a pledge to restore safety and order.Notable Quote:“Just like I took care of the Border… I will take care of our cherished Capital, and we will make it, truly, GREAT AGAIN! … It will soon be that again.”