- Trump suggests the federal government could take control of Washington, D.C. to reduce crime and improve management.
- Says D.C. would be run “flawlessly” under federal oversight, with crime “down to a minimal.”
- Senator Mike Lee backs the idea, pushing the BOWSER Act to repeal D.C.’s home rule and return control to Congress.
President Donald Trump is once again raising eyebrows—this time by suggesting the federal government could take direct control of Washington, D.C., in an effort to tackle crime and improve city management.
Speaking during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump said, “We could run D.C. We’re looking at D.C. We don’t want crime in D.C. We want the city to run well.” He added that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is working closely with Mayor Muriel Bowser, but hinted federal control would yield better results:
“We would run it so good, it would be run so proper… the crime would be down to a minimal.”
Trump’s comments come as crime and safety remain hot-button issues in the nation’s capital. According to recent police data, burglaries are down 12% from 2024, but auto theft is slightly up. WalletHub ranked D.C. 172 out of 182 in its 2025 list of “Safest Cities in America.”
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) responded to Trump’s remarks, calling it time to revisit D.C.’s autonomy. “It’s time to repeal ‘D.C. Home Rule,’ and have D.C.’s laws made by Congress,” Lee posted on X. He promoted the BOWSER Act, introduced with Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), which would strip local officials of legislative authority and place D.C. under congressional control—an idea backed by the Constitution.
Trump previously said the federal government “should run [D.C.] with law and order” and make it “absolutely flawless.”