Federalizing DC 8-8-25

According to recent reports, Donald Trump mentioned taking over Washington D.C., referencing an alleged attack on a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer in early August 2025. Trump connected the incident to claims that crime in the nation's capital was "totally out of control". He stated that a federal takeover would be necessary if D.C. didn't "get its act together".  

Trump previously expressed a desire for more federal involvement in D.C.'s governance. During his first term in 2020, he mentioned "much more control" over the city and deploying the National Guard during Black Lives Matter protests, though he eventually used the U.S. Park Police and National Guard. During the 2024 campaign, he repeatedly discussed taking over the "horribly run capital" and addressing crime and homelessness.

Earlier in February 2025, he stated, "I think that we should govern District of Columbia". He followed this by signing an executive order in March, establishing the "D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force," which focused on issues such as homelessness and graffiti, as well as increasing federal immigration enforcement. 

Former President Donald Trump first publicly floated the idea of the federal government taking control of Washington D.C., in response to Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. During a call with U.S. governors at the time, Trump reportedly discussed putting the District under "much more control" by deploying thousands of D.C. police officers and asserted the federal government would have "total domination" over the city. However, he ultimately deployed the U.S. Park Police and National Guard instead. 

More recently, he has reiterated this sentiment, again suggesting a federal takeover, according to the New York Times and AP News, in February 2025 and again in August 2025, after a former staffer of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was assaulted. He has also used his executive power to influence D.C. priorities, creating the "D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force" to enforce immigration laws, restore monuments, and remove graffiti, according to NPR. 

Note that Trump's statements are distinct from the D.C. statehood movement, which advocates for D.C. to become the 51st state, and not to be placed under further federal control. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=when+did+trump+first+mention+federalizing+DC+ai

Comments

Trump’s March, 2025 Executive Order was to develop a plan to federalize DC. We should be hearing more about the “plan” soon. It may begin with the abolishment of the city, its city council and all city ordinances. It will certainly move residential areas to Maryland and Virginia.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody Ga Tea Party Leader