Trump’s Federal Police Takeover Sparks Nationwide Pushback Amid Falling Crime Rates
When Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC on Monday, he hinted that other US cities could face the same fate — citing their so-called “high crime rates.”
“You look at Chicago, how bad it is. You look at Los Angeles, how bad it is. We have other cities that are very bad,” Trump declared. “We’re not going to let it happen, we’re not going to lose our cities.”
But experts and local leaders were quick to fire back, saying Trump’s claims don’t match reality — in fact, violent crime has been dropping sharply nationwide since its pandemic peak.
“Every category of crime and every population group that the FBI tracks is showing a drop — across both red and blue states,” said Jeff Asher, a criminal justice data analyst. Experts note that this downward trend has been steady since 2022, as the nation recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ames Grawert from the Brennan Center for Justice said many pandemic-era spikes have now reversed. Experts point to investments in violence prevention programs, community street lighting, and other initiatives as key reasons for the improvement.
However, those same programs are now under threat — the Trump administration has been slashing federal spending, including the Department of Justice canceling hundreds of grants for anti-violence and victim support programs in 37 states.
City leaders blasted Trump’s takeover talk, citing local crime data that matches FBI reports — showing progress, not collapse.
In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson revealed a 40% drop in shootings in the past year.
“If President Trump wants to help, he should restore funding for the anti-violence programs that are working,” Johnson said. “Sending in the National Guard would only destabilize our city.”
Maryland officials also united against what they called a false narrative, highlighting a 40% drop in violent crime since 2021. Their message to Trump: “Partner with us, don’t take over.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams echoed that sentiment, saying, “We have the finest police department in the world. We don’t need anyone taking over our law enforcement.”
Even Trump’s own FBI Director, Kash Patel, recently said the US is on track for the lowest murder rate in decades.
Still, Trump doubled down, dismissing the crime statistics as “fraud” without offering evidence. National Guard troops are already on DC streets, and experts like Thaddeus Johnson warn that this may boost arrest numbers temporarily — feeding fear-based narratives rather than solving root issues like housing access, unemployment, and income inequality.
“This isn’t about public safety — it’s political theater,” said Rachel Eisenberg of the Center for American Progress.
Trump, however, declared victory: “People are feeling safe already. They’re not afraid anymore.”