Administration Turns Attention to Key Cities
President Donald Trump announced that his crime-control initiative will now expand to Chicago and New York, condemning Chicago as being in severe disorder and stating New York will follow. The effort continues a controversial federal campaign directed mainly at Democratic-led cities with Black mayors, fueling criticism from local officials.
Troops in Washington to Be Armed
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered that National Guard members stationed in Washington DC be issued weapons, reversing earlier plans to keep them unarmed. Around 2,000 troops are currently positioned throughout the capital, including units sent from Republican-led states. Military officials said the Guardsmen will carry their standard firearms in line with operational requirements.
Trump had already taken command of the DC police force and shifted Guard authority to federal control, citing rising crime and homelessness as justification. District leaders have condemned the move, arguing it undermines local governance.
Federal Command Over Guard Forces Unusual
Under normal circumstances, National Guard troops operate under state governors, with federal control triggered only in exceptional cases. Earlier this year, Trump overruled California’s governor to place Guard units in Los Angeles under federal orders during protests over immigration enforcement, a step considered highly unusual.
Prosecutors Ordered to Pursue Maximum Penalties
The campaign also includes stricter legal directives. Jeanine Pirro, Washington’s top federal prosecutor and former television commentator, instructed her staff to bring the toughest possible charges in criminal cases, reducing the discretion typically given to attorneys. The change is expected to lead to harsher sentences.
Pirro simultaneously announced that her office would not pursue felony charges for individuals possessing rifles or shotguns, even though such weapons are prohibited in the District. She pointed to Supreme Court precedent and Justice Department policy as the basis for this decision.
Local Leaders Push Back
The White House reported over 630 arrests in Washington since the initiative began. Trump has also indicated potential expansion to Baltimore, Oakland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.
Local officials criticized the plan. Maryland Governor Wes Moore said Baltimore is reducing violence through prevention programs and pledged not to deploy the Guard for “political theater.” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott accused Trump of targeting Black-led cities and imposing federal control on communities he has never personally engaged with.
