Initiative Targets Major Urban Areas
President Donald Trump announced plans to extend his federal crime effort to Chicago and New York, describing Chicago as severely troubled and promising that New York would be addressed next. The program continues a focus on Democratic-run cities with Black mayors, drawing criticism from local officials who say the measures are politically motivated.
Armed National Guard to Patrol Capital
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that National Guard troops in Washington DC will now be equipped with firearms, overturning prior assurances that they would remain unarmed. Roughly 2,000 Guard members are stationed in the city, including reinforcements from Republican-led states. Officials confirmed that the soldiers will carry standard military weapons suitable for their mission.
Trump has assumed direct federal oversight of DC’s police department and placed the Guard under national command, citing rising crime and homelessness. City leaders have denounced the action as an overreach of federal authority.
Federal Control Over Guard Forces Uncommon
Normally, state governors direct National Guard operations, with federal authority invoked only in exceptional circumstances. Earlier this year, Trump bypassed California’s governor to federalize Guard units in Los Angeles during protests connected to immigration enforcement, an uncommon use of presidential power.
Prosecutors Ordered to Seek Tougher Charges
The crackdown also affects the justice system. Jeanine Pirro, the District’s top federal prosecutor and former television host, instructed her staff to pursue the maximum charges allowed in criminal cases, reducing prosecutorial discretion and aiming for longer sentences.
Pirro also directed prosecutors not to pursue felony charges for possession of rifles or shotguns, despite local restrictions. She cited Supreme Court guidance and Justice Department policy as justification for the change.
Local Officials Express Opposition
Federal authorities reported over 630 arrests in Washington under the operation. Trump has also suggested that Baltimore, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York could be next for similar federal interventions.
Local leaders criticized the plan. Maryland Governor Wes Moore emphasized that Baltimore is reducing crime through community initiatives and refused to deploy the Guard for “political spectacle.” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott accused Trump of targeting Black-led cities and intervening in communities he has no firsthand experience with.
