Tensions Rise in D.C. as Trump Moves to Federalize Local Policing; Protests Spark Debate Over Safety and Control

As former President Donald Trump stood before reporters at the White House on Monday morning, announcing plans to deploy the National Guard across Washington, D.C., and take control of local policing operations, demonstrations erupted just a block away. Protesters gathered in opposition to what they viewed as a troubling power grab by the federal government.

Keya Chatterjee, executive director of Free DC—a group advocating for the city’s political autonomy—voiced her concerns to a crowd of roughly 200 gathered near 16th Street Northwest.

“This isn’t about protecting the people of D.C.,” she said. “This is about control. History shows us that authoritarians target the capital city first—because that’s how they silence dissent. It’s not about crime. It’s about power.”

Chatterjee’s words echoed the sentiments of many in the city who fear that Trump’s unprecedented move to override local authority may signal deeper efforts to reshape governance in the District.

But not everyone in Washington agrees.

Lamont Mitchell, a longtime resident and community leader, took a different view. The 69-year-old, who chairs the Anacostia Coordinating Council, described a city where daily life had become increasingly unsafe.

“I don’t go down certain streets anymore,” Mitchell said. “I’ve had my RV stolen. I avoid routes on my way home just to steer clear of trouble. I’ve even started looking into getting a firearm. As a senior citizen, I have to feel safe—and I don’t.”

Mitchell acknowledged that Trump’s plan may be extreme, but said drastic times call for strong responses. “Something has to change,” he said. “We’ve reached that point.”

Mayor Muriel Bowser called the intervention both “unsettling” and “unnecessary,” emphasizing that local leadership has things under control. She pointed to declining crime statistics: robberies, assaults, and homicides have all seen significant drops, with violent crime reportedly hitting a 30-year low in 2024.

Still, the District faces persistent challenges. Despite improvements, Washington continues to report higher levels of violence than many U.S. cities with similar population sizes. Much of the crime remains concentrated in the city’s under-resourced eastern neighborhoods, which are predominantly Black and have long struggled with systemic inequities.

At the same time, Washington is already one of the most heavily policed cities in the country. With more than 50 distinct law enforcement agencies operating within city limits—including the Metropolitan Police Department, FBI Police, Capitol Police, and even more obscure forces like the Smithsonian’s zoo police—residents are no strangers to a heavy security presence.

Trump’s latest move, however, adds another layer. National Guard units and federal agents from agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement are expected to be deployed across the city in coming days.

The debate is not just about safety—it’s about who holds the power to decide how that safety is maintained.

Complicating the picture is a surprising revelation: protest crowds in Washington may not be as spontaneous as they seem. According to Adam Swart, CEO of the event staffing firm Crowds on Demand, his company has seen a dramatic rise in requests for organized demonstrations in the nation’s capital in recent months.

“Compared to the same time last year, we’ve had a 400% increase in inquiries from D.C.,” Swart said. “Most are tied to opposition against Trump’s push for federal control and fears about government overreach.”

Crowds on Demand is known for providing paid actors to bolster crowds at rallies, protests, and public events. Swart insists that most major political events in the capital are supported in some form by professional or paid participants.

“It’s more common than people think,” he said. “You have Capitol Hill staffers, activists, consultants—people who are paid to be there. It doesn’t mean they don’t believe in the cause, but these crowds are rarely as organic as they appear on TV.”

Swart added that his company evaluates each request carefully. “While there’s valid criticism of how the local government in D.C. has handled public safety, handing too much power to the federal government is dangerous. Balance matters.”

As tensions mount and the National Guard prepares to roll out, D.C. residents find themselves caught between competing narratives: one of safety and security, and another of autonomy and democracy. Whether Trump’s intervention marks a temporary response to crime—or the beginning of a deeper political transformation—remains to be seen.

For now, the city stands on edge, its streets lined not only with protestors and police, but with questions about who should truly hold power in the capital of the United States.