The White House announced Thursday that President Donald Trump has authorized a heightened presence of federal law enforcement in Washington’s busiest tourist districts, citing concerns over the city’s handling of violent crimes committed by minors.
The decision follows Trump’s Tuesday warning that he might revoke the District’s limited “home rule” if local authorities fail to prosecute juvenile offenders more aggressively. The president said he believes D.C.’s approach has emboldened young criminals.
The tipping point, according to administration officials, was an incident over the weekend in which Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old staffer at the Department of Government Efficiency, was reportedly assaulted by a group of juveniles attempting a carjacking in Northwest D.C. Coristine sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
“Washington, D.C. is an amazing city, but it has been plagued by violent crime for far too long,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to Politico. “President Trump has directed an increased presence of federal law enforcement to protect innocent citizens. Starting tonight, there will be no safe harbor for violent criminals in D.C.”
The operation will be led by the U.S. Park Police and will involve several federal and local agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Capitol Police, and the Metro Transit Police.
The coordinated effort is expected to run for at least seven days, with the possibility of extension. Law enforcement will focus on high-traffic tourist zones such as the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, and other popular attractions, aiming to deter thefts, assaults, and other crimes that have drawn increasing complaints from visitors and residents alike.
Republican lawmakers have criticized the city’s legal system for what they call a “soft” approach toward minors accused of serious offenses. D.C. leaders, however, have defended their policies, arguing that rehabilitation and prevention should be central to juvenile justice.
