President Trump recently threatened to federalize Washington, D.C., citing rampant crime following a violent attack on Edward Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer nicknamed “Big Balls.”
The incident occurred early Sunday morning in Logan Circle, where Coristine was severely beaten during an attempted carjacking while protecting a woman, with two 15-year-old suspects arrested and charged with unarmed carjacking. Trump posted on Truth Social that D.C.’s crime is “totally out of control,” particularly among youths aged 14 to 16, who he claims face little consequence due to lenient local laws, proposing they be prosecuted as adults.
He warned, “If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City,” emphasizing a need to make the capital “safe, clean, and beautiful.” Elon Musk, former DOGE head, supported this call on X, stating that Coristine was beaten to the point of concussion while saving a woman, declaring, “It is time to federalize DC.”
Federalizing D.C. would mean the federal government assuming direct control over the city’s governance, bypassing local authorities and the limited self-rule granted by the 1973 Home Rule Act, which allows D.C. to elect its mayor and council but subjects it to Congressional oversight. This move is touted as a tactic to fight crime by enabling stricter federal law enforcement, prosecution, and policies, bypassing what Trump and supporters view as ineffective local governance. Proponents argue it would deter crime by imposing harsher penalties and increasing federal resources, though critics claim D.C.’s violent crime has dropped 26% since 2024.
The proposal reignites debates over D.C.’s autonomy, with local leaders like Mayor Muriel Bowser facing pressure to address youth crime, particularly carjackings, which remain a persistent issue. Trump’s threats follow previous actions, like creating the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful” task force, signaling a broader push to reshape the capital’s governance amid high-profile incidents.
We want to ask you, the reader: do you support Trump federalizing D.C.? Answer in our poll below and comment your thoughts if you believe it will fix the crime issues at the capital.
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