Trump Threatens Federal Control Over D.C. Homelessness

President Donald Trump has announced plans to forcibly remove homeless individuals from Washington, D.C., relocating them far from the capital and promising alternative accommodations, while also vowing to jail criminals and beautify the city. He claims these actions are needed to address rampant crime and disorder, citing a recent violent attack on a former government staffer as justification. However, city officials and police data indicate that violent crime in Washington, D.C. has reached its lowest levels in over 30 years as of 2024 and 2025, with homelessness numbers not currently at crisis levels. Trump has threatened to place the city under federal control, but legal experts say he cannot do so unilaterally without congressional approval. His proposals have drawn strong criticism from local officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, and have been condemned by advocates for the homeless as extreme and misleading. The announcement has also sparked protests by groups supporting D.C. self-governance.