Overview

• President Trump posted on Truth Social that he will federalize Washington, D.C., if local officials do not amend laws to prosecute minors as adults starting at age 14
• He included a graphic image of a bloodied teenager he said was “beaten mercilessly by local thugs” to underscore his claim of unchecked youth violence
• FBI figures show violent crime in the district fell 35 percent in 2024, reaching its lowest level in 30 years
• The Metropolitan Police Department has launched a dedicated juvenile crime unit to address increasing arrests of teenagers for violent offenses
• Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act and shift control of the city’s governance to Congress