News / FJP Releases
Fair and Just Prosecution Condemns the Federalization of the Local Police and Deployment of the National Guard in the District of Columbia
August 13, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) — Earlier this week, President Trump federalized control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployed the National Guard in Washington, D.C. Although this extraordinary measure was alleged to be necessary in order to respond to rampant crime in the Capital, the Department of Justice’s own statistics demonstrate that the violent crime rate is at a 30-year low, and most categories of serious offenses are lower now in D.C. than during the President’s first term. The President is employing unprecedented federal force and resources that are openly hostile to the rule of law, erode public trust and undermine the ability of local law enforcement to do its job, and threaten public safety in order to address a non-existent crisis.
FJP Executive Director Aramis Ayala made the following statement in response to the unnecessary use of federal law enforcement resources:
“Neither the residents of D.C. nor their elected leaders have asked for this unprecedented escalation of federal law enforcement in their communities. In fact, the local leaders of the District – chosen by their communities – have shown their strong ability to make progress and reduce crime in the city. The President’s actions this week undermine that progress and the will of the voters in the District of Columbia. If public safety were a genuine priority, we know the steps that could be taken to make our communities stronger and safer – investments in affordable housing, health care and mental health services, education, substance abuse treatment, meaningful employment opportunities, and building trust between local law enforcement and the communities they serve. The federalization of MPD and deployment of the National Guard, which exists to respond to real emergencies and threats to national security, do not make D.C. safer. These tactics are designed solely to manipulate people’s fears and concerns for broader power and control. They will ultimately diminish public confidence in law enforcement and waste federal resources better invested in legitimate efforts to build healthy and safe communities.”