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By Alia Shoaib
Reporter
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Members of the National Guard are due to remain in Washington D.C. until September 25, according to a leaked memo obtained by journalist Ken Klippenstein.
President Donald Trump announced Monday that he was temporarily assuming federal control of the capital's police force and deploying around 800 National Guardsmen, claiming the city had descended into "lawlessness."
Newsweek contacted the District of Columbia National Guard via email on Tuesday outside of regular working hours.
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Why It Matters
The move is one of the most aggressive federal interventions in local law enforcement in recent history.
The actions bypassed the city's elected leaders, several of whom have criticized the takeover as "unsettling", "unprecedented" and "dangerous".
What To Know
According to the memo, District of Columbia National Guardsmen were being sent to the city to "protect federal property and functions" in the city, and to "support federal and District law enforcement."
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Trump said on Monday that he was invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a federal law that allows the president to temporarily assume control of D.C.'s police force during declared public emergencies.
"Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals," Trump said at a news conference at the White House.
He claimed that the city was "one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world," with murder rates being higher than Bogota in Colombia and Mexico City.
Washington, D.C. does have a relatively high violent crime and murder rate compared to many U.S. cities, but the city has seen a 26 percent drop in violent crime so far in 2025.
Trump implied that other cities across the country could face similar actions, naming Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Oakland as other cities with crime problems.
However, he was able to take this action in D.C. because unlike states, the city has no governor, so the president can directly control the National Guard there without needing permission.
An unnamed D.C. National Guardsmen told Klippenstein that the move was a "huge waste of time and money when their focus is [supposed to be] saving money."
What People Are Saying
**Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser said on Monday: "**While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that given some of the rhetoric of the past, that we're totally surprised. I can say to D.C. residents that we will continue to operate our government in a way that makes you proud."
Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said on X: "The Administration's actions are unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful. There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year."
"We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents."
District Councilmember Charles Allen said on X: "The President taking over local control of MPD & putting the US military onto the streets of DC under the guise of public safety is wrong. It's an extreme, outrageous, and dangerous move for our city and the safety of all our residents."
What Happens Next
The National Guard deployment is set to last until at least September 25, unless they are released earlier, according to the memo.
D.C.'s Attorney General indicated that city officials are exploring all options to challenge the federal takeover.
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