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Both bills are part of a broader House Republican strategy unfolding alongside President Trump’s renewed federal crackdown on crime in Washington. As part of that effort, Trump has deployed elements of the National Guard and directed federal agencies — including the DEA and ICE — to assist local law enforcement in combating violent crime and addressing illegal immigration within the District.
The legislation now heads to the Republican-controlled Senate, where its future remains uncertain. However, recent history suggests congressional intervention in D.C. crime policy is far from unprecedented. In 2023, the Senate passed a House measure blocking the District from reducing penalties for serious crimes — a bill that was ultimately signed into law by then-President Joe Biden.
At the time, Biden acknowledged concerns over the city’s direction despite voicing support for local governance. “I support D.C. Statehood and home-rule, but I don’t support some of the changes D.C. Council put forward over the Mayor’s objections such as lowering penalties for carjackings,” Biden tweeted.
While D.C. residents elect their own local leaders, Congress maintains sweeping authority over the city under the 1973 Home Rule Act. That constitutional reality has increasingly come into focus as violent crime and carjackings surged, prompting lawmakers to question whether local officials are capable — or willing — to enforce meaningful consequences.
According to reports, House Republicans are not finished. Two additional bills expected to receive votes would expand police authority to physically pursue suspects in specific circumstances and limit the District’s control over judicial appointments. Supporters argue these steps are necessary to prevent activist prosecutors and judges from weakening enforcement, while opponents claim they infringe on local autonomy.
President Trump has defended federal involvement, pointing to tangible early results. Last year, he ordered a surge of federal agents into the city and temporarily placed Washington’s police department under federal oversight in an effort to reverse alarming crime trends.
Data reviewed by CNN shows that during the first full week of federal involvement, reported crime declined modestly overall — even as immigration-related arrests spiked dramatically. For the week beginning August 12, property crime fell by roughly 19 percent, while violent crime dropped 17 percent, according to Metropolitan Police Department statistics.
The breakdown reveals sharper improvements in certain categories. Robberies and car break-ins dropped by more than 40 percent, while theft numbers remained unchanged. At the same time, burglaries rose slightly, and assaults involving dangerous weapons increased. Two homicides occurred during the period, consistent with recent weeks, though none have been reported since August 13.
Federal law enforcement has worked side-by-side with local police, assisting in arrests, searches, and warrant executions while patrolling neighborhoods in unmarked vehicles. Immigration enforcement also surged, with roughly 300 illegal immigrants arrested in the District since August 7 — more than ten times the typical weekly total.
The White House pushed back strongly against media attempts to downplay the impact. Responding to CNN’s analysis, spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said critics were ignoring the real-world consequences of tougher enforcement.
“The drops in crime are not ‘moderate,’ they are life-changing for the countless of DC residents and visitors who have not been murdered, robbed, carjacked, or victims of overall violent crime in the last week,” Jackson said. “The priority of this operation remains getting violent criminals off the streets — regardless of immigration status.”
As House Republicans continue advancing their crime agenda, the debate over Washington, D.C.’s future appears far from settled — but the message from conservatives is unmistakable: accountability, transparency, and public safety are no longer optional.
