Trump Threatens D.C. Federalization After Ex-Staffer’s Assault

President Trump has announced he is considering federalizing Washington, D.C.’s police force, following an attempted carjacking over the weekend that injured a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer. Speaking from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, Trump stated, “He went through a bad situation to put it mildly, and there’s too much of it. We’re going to do something about it,” also suggesting the swift deployment of the National Guard.

The incident involved 19-year-old Edward Coristine, a former GSA staffer, who was assaulted by a group of approximately ten juveniles during an attempted carjacking in Logan Circle early Sunday morning. Two 15-year-old suspects were arrested and charged at the scene.

Trump’s remarks follow a Tuesday Truth Social post where he decried D.C.’s crime as “totally out of control.” While D.C. did see a spike in violent crime in 2023, data from the Metropolitan Police Department indicates a decline since last year.

The President’s threat to potentially overturn D.C.’s half-century-old home rule, which grants the city limited self-government, is not new. He has consistently advocated for greater federal control over the capital. Legal experts note that while Trump cannot unilaterally revoke home rule, Congress could do so, with bills already introduced in February by Republican lawmakers.

The federal government already possesses significant authority in D.C., including control over the D.C. National Guard and the ability to use the Metropolitan Police force for federal purposes. Trump has previously used executive orders, such as creating the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force,” to influence local governance. Mayor Muriel Bowser has, at times, complied with federal demands, including clearing homeless encampments, despite her vocal criticism of the President. The ongoing tension highlights the complex relationship between the federal government and the nation’s capital.

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