Trump directs federal officers to take control of Chicago and New York City
The crime wave in this country is something beyond belief. There’s only one way to stop it.
Now Trump directed federal officers to take control of Chicago and New York City.
Trump Announces Federal Policing Surge for Chicago and New York, Proposes $2 Billion for DC Revitalization
President Donald Trump announced recently that Chicago will be the next city to receive a surge in federal law enforcement, followed by New York City, as part of his ongoing campaign to address urban crime, following the federalization of Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployment of 800 National Guard troops.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump claimed strong public support in Chicago, stating, “People in Chicago are screaming for us to come,” and cited recent interactions with community members urging federal intervention.
He also proposed a $2 billion congressional funding package to revitalize DC, including road repairs, rat extermination, and park restoration, expressing confidence in bipartisan support after discussions with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), per CBS News.
Federal Policing Plans and DC Progress
The federal government lacks direct authority to control local police or deploy National Guard troops in Chicago and New York, unlike in DC, where home rule laws grant greater federal oversight.
However, Trump can increase federal agents, as seen in his 2020 Operation Legend, which sent 200 agents to Chicago, resulting in 2,000 arrests, per DOJ records.
In DC, Trump’s recent measures, including 1,450 federal officers and Guard members patrolling on August 12, led to 43 arrests in one night and a homicide-free week, the first since March, per MPD data.
Despite a 26% drop in violent crime and 38% reduction in carjackings in DC in 2025 compared to 2024, Trump called the city a “crime-infested rat hole” and criticized Mayor Muriel Bowser, hinting at federal control if local leadership falters.
Legal and Political Challenges
Trump gave conflicting signals on DC’s future, suggesting he may relinquish MPD control after the 30-day federalization period expires in September but also threatening a national emergency to extend authority, potentially seizing the entire DC government.
Critics, including DC Mayor Bowser, who called the takeover “unsettling and unprecedented,” argue it oversteps constitutional limits, citing the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in civilian policing.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker rejected federal intervention, with Pritzker emphasizing the city’s 23% homicide reduction in 2025 and urging Trump to fund anti-violence programs instead, per NBC Chicago. Supporters, including DC’s police union, credit Trump’s actions for crime reductions, though some question the accuracy of crime statistics.
The plan’s expansion to Chicago and New York faces legal and political hurdles, as both cities are led by Democratic officials unlikely to cooperate.
