President Donald Trump is reported to have urgently deployed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents to Washington, D.C., under the pretense of clearing out homeless individuals and criminals. They have been assigned to night shifts, and there are indications that the military may deploy additional hundreds of National Guard members.
According to the Washington Post (WP) on the 10th (local time), 120 FBI agents have recently been deployed to Washington, D.C., and personnel from the Secret Service have also reportedly been instructed to begin special patrols.
On the same day, President Trump stated through his social media platform, Truth Social, that "homeless individuals must leave (Washington, D.C.) immediately" and announced that he would hold a press conference at the White House on the 11th regarding "crime and environmental beautification."
According to unnamed sources cited by WP, the agents being deployed mainly come from the FBI's Washington field office, but personnel dispatched from other branches, such as in Philadelphia, are also included. They are organized into night shifts and will carry out tasks such as vehicle theft sanctions, street patrols, intelligence gathering, and joint enforcement support for at least one week. Personnel from the Washington, D.C. police and other federal agencies will also participate in these efforts.
President Trump declared a "war on crime" following an incident on the 3rd, in which a former Department of Operational Efficiency (DOGE) employee was assaulted by a group of teenagers while trying to steal a vehicle in Washington, D.C. He posted on Truth Social, "If actions are not taken swiftly, the federal government will have no choice but to take control of Washington, D.C.," while also noting during a press conference at the White House that "lawyers are reviewing how to take over the autonomy of Washington, D.C.," regarding the federal government's authority.
The clearing of homeless individuals in Washington, D.C. is also one of President Trump's long-standing objectives. Earlier this year, he launched the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force to address urban issues, including homeless tents and graffiti.
However, concerns about safety and effectiveness have arisen due to the fact that many FBI agents have traditionally been assigned to counterintelligence and public corruption investigations, leading to relatively limited field experience. According to WP, there have been voices of dissatisfaction among field agents regarding their deployment in field tasks, and the resulting decline in morale cannot be ignored.
Questions also arise regarding the necessity of such enforcement. Mayor Muriel Bowser recently pointed out in an interview that the crime rate in Washington, D.C. is actually trending downward, contrary to President Trump's claims. Police statistics indicate that violent crime has decreased by approximately 26% compared to the same period last year, and homicides have dropped by 12%. The number of juvenile arrests has also been reported at around 900, down about 20% from the same period last year.
There are also concerns that this federal intervention may lead to an infringement on local autonomy. Washington, D.C., which houses the White House, federal agencies, and the U.S. Congress, is a special administrative district that is not legally affiliated with any state, allowing the federal government and president to hold certain powers, including legal and National Guard control. However, the president's moves to fully seize police powers are seen as highly unusual.
Homeless rights groups in Washington, D.C. have also voiced opposition to President Trump's actions. Jessi Rabinovitz, communications director of the National Homeless Law Center, criticized, saying, "If the budget allocated for enforcement to drive out homeless individuals were utilized for providing dwellings, it would yield much greater effects."