Restoring Law And Order In The Nation’s Capital

 President Trump Executive Order

Credit: The White House

Washington, D.C. isn’t just another city—it’s our nation’s capital, the seat of our federal government, the symbolic heart of America, and the place where millions of people each year come to learn our history and see our historic monuments and the symbols of our great Republic.

But anyone who’s spent any time here in the last forty-plus years knows the truth: D.C. has been spiraling deeper into a crime abyss that has made its streets dangerous, its residents fearful, and its visitors uneasy.

That’s why President Donald J. Trump’s decision to use federal resources to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., is exactly the kind of bold, decisive leadership that has defined his career. He’s not just talking about the problem, he’s taking action. And in a city where too many politicians are afraid to confront the truth about crime, that makes all the difference.

The District of Columbia is unique. It’s not a state. It’s not governed by a governor or a legislature like the other fifty states. Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress retains ultimate authority over the District, and the federal government has both the responsibility and the power to step in when public safety collapses. President Trump understands this. Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution, often called the “District Clause,” explicitly grants Congress the authority to “exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever” over the District. That means the federal government not only has the right, but the duty to protect the safety of its citizens, workers, and visitors.

Unlike weak leaders who hide behind excuses, Trump is using his Constitutional authority to protect the American people. That’s real leadership, knowing the tools you have and having the courage to use them.

When violent crime spikes, when law enforcement is under-resourced and handcuffed by political agendas, and when local leaders refuse to make the hard choices to restore order, the federal government cannot simply stand by. President Trump knows that letting Washington, D.C. descend into lawlessness isn’t just bad for the people who live and work there, it’s a threat to our national security and a stain on America’s reputation. He’s heard from victims. He’s seen what’s happening and he’s acting when others would rather look the other way.

If you’ve walked the streets of D.C. lately, you’ve seen the difference. What was once a city on the rebound has now become another tragic example of what happens when progressive “reforms” go too far, and criminals are emboldened. Carjackings, shootings, armed robberies, and assaults have surged. Families who have called D.C. home for generations are moving out. Tourists who once brought their children to see the monuments now think twice. President Trump is not willing to accept this “new normal.” He understands that the nation’s capital should be a model of safety, not a symbol of decline.

Much like New York, D.C. has fallen victim to the radical experiment of cashless bail and “justice reform” that puts violent offenders back on the streets before the ink is dry on the arrest paperwork. As a decorated NYPD detective, I’ve seen the direct consequences of these so-called “reforms.” I’ve looked in the eyes of victims whose attackers were back on the streets within hours. I’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow officers who risked their lives to apprehend violent criminals, only to watch them walk right back out the front door of the courthouse.

President Trump sees through the lies of these failed policies. He knows that without accountability, there is no safety. And he’s not afraid to call out the politicians who have enabled this crisis.

The men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department, like officers everywhere, are professionals who put their lives on the line daily. But in D.C., they’ve been handcuffed by political leaders more interested in appeasing activists than protecting communities. President Trump has always been a staunch defender of our law enforcement heroes. From day one, he has made it clear that he backs the blue. His decision to bring in federal resources to support and strengthen D.C.’s law enforcement isn’t just a policy move—it’s a promise kept. President Trump is the greatest friend to law enforcement to ever occupy the White House.

As Scripture tells us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of G-d.” President Trump is making sure those peacemakers have the resources, authority, and legal backing to do their jobs without fear of political retribution.

Critics will cry that deploying federal resources to combat local crime is an “overreach.” That’s nonsense. In Washington, D.C., the federal government isn’t a guest, it’s the landlord. Protecting this city is not just permitted by law, it’s required by it. And here’s the difference: President Trump isn’t doing this for headlines; he’s doing it because it’s the right thing to do. He knows that leadership means taking responsibility, not passing the buck.

In my years as an NYPD detective, I worked cases that took dangerous criminals off the streets, from gang takedowns to illegal gun seizures. I know what it takes to turn a crime wave around: leadership, resources, and the will to put public safety above politics. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen what happens when politicians put ideology over reality. It happened in New York with bail reform. It’s happening in Chicago. And it’s happening here in D.C. And unless we act decisively, the spiral will continue.

President Trump gets it. He’s not waiting for more victims. He’s not waiting for more excuses. He’s acting now, and he’s doing what weak politicians won’t. If Washington, D.C. can’t guarantee the safety of its own residents, how can it guarantee the safety of our national institutions? If the seat of our government becomes just another unsafe, lawless city, it undermines not just local confidence, but national morale.

President Trump knows that millions of Americans visit every year: school groups, veterans, tourists, and diplomats. They deserve to walk our streets without fear. They deserve to see a capital city worthy of the country it represents.

The decision to deploy federal resources to combat crime in D.C. is not just about one city. It’s about setting a standard for the nation. Lawlessness cannot become “normalized.” Disorder cannot be accepted as the new normal.

President Trump is sending a clear message: the rule of law still matters in America, justice still matters, and the safety of our citizens will never be negotiable.

As someone who’s worked the streets, who’s been in the fight, I know that crime is not inevitable, it’s the direct result of choices. And right now, President Trump is making the choice to fight back.

Blessed are the peacemakers. With President Trump leading this effort, the peacemakers in D.C. and across this beautiful Nation have a fighting chance—and so do our cities themselves. n

Congressman Anthony D’Esposito was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as Inspector General of the Department of Labor. Previously, he served in Congress, representing New York’s 4th Congressional District. Anthony served as a Councilman in the Town of Hempstead after retiring from the NYPD as a highly decorated Detective. He also served as Chief of the Island Park Fire Department and helped lead the all-volunteer organization’s response to Super-Storm Sandy. The Congressman appears frequently on Fox News, Newsmax, ABC National News, and 77 WABC Sid and Friends in the Morning. To contact, email [email protected].