President Trump on Monday ordered the National Guard to prepare for rapid deployment to fight crime across the country and enlisted more federal agencies to join his crime-fighting effort.
The additional measures are designed to tackle the “crime emergency” that Mr. Trump declared Aug. 11 in the nation’s capital.
He has since said the effort could be needed in other cities.
In the new order, Mr. Trump directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to create and start training, manning, hiring and equipping a D.C. National Guard united specializing in public safety and order.
The president ordered the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Transportation to get involved.
HUD is directed to investigate housing safety compliance in the District, while the Transportation Department will increase inspections of federally funded transit services to protect workers.
Mr. Trump also directed the National Park Service to hire more U.S. Park Police officers to support his anti-crime agenda.
Mr. Trump said Congress should make the order a law to keep the federal government in the crime-fighting business during future administrations.
“I think Democrats will vote” for it, he said. “Well, it’s hard to believe that they might not, but I think Democrats will actually vote for this.”
Also under the order:
• The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. will hire more prosecutors to focus on violent and property crimes.
• The D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force will create an online portal for Americans with law enforcement or relevant experience to apply to join federal agencies in D.C.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi will review the Metropolitan Police Department’s general orders and recommend changes to improve public safety.
“The Attorney General shall review the Metropolitan Police Department General Orders and shall request that the Mayor of the District of Columbia make such updates and modifications to such orders as the Attorney General determines are necessary to address the crime emergency and ensure public order and safety,” the order said.
