Trump threatens to federalize DC after violent attack on DOGE staffer
Either Washington, DC ‘straightens their act out in terms of government and in terms of protection or we're going to have to federalize’ it, president says
WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump threatened Tuesday to place Washington, DC under federal control, citing a spike in violent crime and the recent beating of a young man affiliated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“Somebody from DOGE was very badly hurt last night. You saw that. A young man who was beaten up by a bunch of thugs in DC,” Trump said.
“And either they're going to straighten their act out in terms of government and in terms of protection or we're going to have to federalize and run it the way it's supposed to be run,” he told reporters.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, saying crime in the capital is “totally out of control,” blaming local “gang members” and teenagers as young as 14 for the attacks.
He called for changing DC laws to allow minors to be prosecuted as adults and warned: “If this continues, I am going to exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City.”
