Federal Effort Shifts Toward Major Cities
President Donald Trump stated that his administration will broaden its crime initiative to Chicago and New York, portraying Chicago as unstable and pledging that New York will be next. The plan extends a controversial strategy directed largely at Democratic-led cities with Black mayors, fueling political disputes.
National Guard in Capital to Be Armed
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that National Guard forces deployed in Washington DC will carry weapons, reversing earlier assurances that they would remain unarmed. Nearly 2,000 Guard troops are currently stationed in the city, including units sent from Republican-led states. Officials confirmed they will be equipped with standard-issue firearms suited to their assignments.
Trump has already assumed federal command over the DC police and placed the Guard under national authority, citing public disorder and homelessness as justification. District officials have condemned the move as an erosion of local control.
Federal Role in Guard Deployments Uncommon
Under normal practice, governors control their state Guard units, and federal command is invoked only in exceptional cases. Earlier this summer, Trump overrode California’s governor to place Guard members in Los Angeles under federal direction during demonstrations against immigration enforcement, a rare assertion of presidential power.
Prosecutors Told to Push Stronger Charges
The initiative also targets the courts. Jeanine Pirro, Washington’s top federal prosecutor and a former broadcaster, directed attorneys to seek the toughest charges available in most cases, limiting their ability to exercise discretion. The directive is expected to increase penalties and sentence lengths.
Pirro also declared that her office will not pursue felony cases for possession of rifles or shotguns, even though local law prohibits such weapons. She cited rulings by the Supreme Court and Justice Department guidance to support the change.
Local Leaders Reject Federal Moves
The administration reported more than 630 arrests tied to the Washington operation. Trump has also identified Baltimore, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York as additional cities under review for similar actions.
Local leaders strongly opposed the announcement. Maryland Governor Wes Moore said Baltimore is reducing violence through community strategies and refused to use the Guard for “political theater.” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott accused Trump of singling out Black-led municipalities and intervening in neighborhoods he has no connection to.
