President Donald Trump’s decision to deploy federal agents and National Guard troops across Washington, D.C., has drawn significant attention from residents and business owners who say the capital already feels safer, as reported by The New York Post.
Hundreds of officers and guardsmen are stationed throughout the city under Trump’s directive, which also placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. Many locals report a visible difference in crime prevention and police response.
“All my employees, including me, we feel much more safe, and even our customers feel really happy when they walk into our store,” said Indu Bhatia, who operates a liquor store about half a mile from the White House.
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Bhatia explained that her store had been robbed repeatedly, forcing costly renovations to increase security. She said the local police have been performing “better” since the federal intervention.
Washington has long ranked among the nation’s most violent major cities, with a murder rate higher than Chicago and nearly seven times greater than New York City.
While overall violence has trended downward in 2024, categories such as carjackings and vehicle thefts have soared since 2019. Carjackings are up 241% compared to pre-pandemic levels, vehicle thefts are up 143%, and the murder rate remains 12% higher than 2019 figures.
Supporters of the crackdown believe Trump’s move is restoring order. Mike, a 22-year-old Johns Hopkins University student, said the federal takeover “shows a renewed interest by the Trump administration to move around resources and maybe tackle the problem in a different way.”
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National Guard troops have reported widespread support from residents. “We’ve had a lot of people saying ‘I’m glad you’re here doing what you’re doing — a lot of fist-bumps and selfies,” one Guardsman stationed near the Navy Memorial told reporters.
Mahesh, 26, a government employee from Maryland, described quicker police response times.
“Recently I went to the White House and saw someone had left a bag outside and right away a cop went out there and was asking people whose bag it was. [The police] are very alert and I feel like it’s very secure,” he said. “I think Trump is doing right taking care of the city.”
Officials confirm crime metrics have fallen since the deployment.
The D.C. Police Union reported on X that in the last 14 days, total crime dropped 11% citywide. The report cited significant decreases in robberies (42%), assaults with deadly weapons (13%), carjackings (85%), car thefts (24%), violent crime (25%), and property crime (10%).
DC crime since the announcement of federal control versus the 14 days prior: Robbery ⬇️42% ADW ⬇️13% Carjacking ⬇️85% Car Theft ⬇️24% Violent Crime ⬇️25% Property Crime ⬇️10% Total Crime ⬇️11% While federal assistance gives us a boost, we must repeal the misguided…
— DC Police Union (@DCPoliceUnion) August 25, 2025
Some residents remain skeptical. Christian Meyers, a lifelong D.C. resident, called the troop presence “idiotic” and compared it to the risk of “another Kent State.” Courtney, who works in government affairs, argued that the initiative is a “publicity stunt” rather than a real crime solution, claiming the visible security is focused on areas that create photo opportunities rather than the neighborhoods hardest hit by crime.
Others, like Alex, a 49-year-old Metro worker, acknowledged mixed feelings but admitted the deployment acts as a deterrent. “You have a dude that might come in here and act the fool but instead of doing that he sees [National Guard troops] and says ‘I’m not gonna do nothing’ — it does make some people think twice,” he said.
The capital recently ended a nearly unprecedented 12-day stretch without a murder, and while opinions differ, early data suggests the Trump administration’s measures are reducing crime across the city.
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