WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: U.S. President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of the White House after returning on Marine One on July 29, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump returned to the White House with his family after a trip to Scotland that was part vacation, part work, as he stayed at his Trump Turnberry golf course, followed by Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire, from July 25 to 29. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Anna Moneymaker / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Washington, D.C. — August 11, 2025
President Donald Trump has sparked immediate controversy after announcing a sweeping federal initiative targeting homelessness and crime in the nation’s capital. Speaking ahead of a scheduled press conference, Trump said he has “ordered the removal of all homeless encampments from Washington, D.C.” and vowed to restore “law and order” through a larger federal presence.
“This city will no longer be a haven for crime, chaos, and disgrace,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “The homeless will be relocated — but far from the Capital — and we will take back our streets.”
Over 120 federal law enforcement officers were reportedly deployed overnight to support what the administration is calling “Operation Restore Dignity,” prompting fierce backlash from D.C. city officials and civil rights organizations.
Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the move as “federal overreach,” while housing advocates warned that forcibly relocating vulnerable populations without long-term support will only worsen the crisis.
Ironically, official crime data shows a 26% drop in violent crime across the city this year — a point critics say undercuts the administration’s justification.
Adding to the shockwaves, Trump hinted at revoking D.C.’s Home Rule, suggesting a return to direct federal control of city governance. Legal experts say such a move would trigger significant constitutional challenges and likely require congressional approval.
