In a move that has never been done before, President Donald Trump has taken direct federal control of the police department in Washington, D.C., saying there is a crime crisis that requires urgent action. This decision also includes sending 800 National Guard troops to patrol the streets of the city. As a result, the local elected leaders no longer have authority over their own police force.
This federal takeover (similar to the one that happened in LA) is happening even though official data from the D.C. police shows that violent crime has been going down for two years in a row, and murders have also decreased, per Washington Post. The president’s administration has already started sending federal agents, including FBI officers, to help local police, especially in stopping carjackings and other violent crimes.
