Lawmakers are bracing for what could become one of the most heated political fights of the season: President Donald Trump’s upcoming crime bill, the centerpiece of his new campaign to crack down on lawlessness in Washington, D.C.
The White House is putting the finishing touches on a legislative package that Trump claims will not only tackle violent crime in the nation’s capital but also act as a “blueprint” for other large U.S. cities facing similar public safety issues. Emphasizing “law and order” as a defining theme of his second term, the president appears determined to expand federal influence over how D.C. is governed and policed.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Trump said the bill would be unveiled “very soon” and described it as part of his broader effort to “restore safety and pride” to the district. “Democrats won’t lift a finger to stop crime,” he told Fox News. “But Republicans will. Our new crime bill starts with Washington, D.C., and it’ll set the standard for cities across America.”
He added that the proposal would include what he called “a modest amount of money” to repair roads, upgrade infrastructure, and, in his words, “make the capital beautiful again.”
The announcement comes as Trump continues to assert sweeping control over the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)—authority that, by federal law, expires after 30 days unless Congress votes to extend it. His temporary command of the MPD has already become a flashpoint in Washington, setting up an intense confrontation between the White House and Democratic lawmakers who see it as blatant federal overreach.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, one of Trump’s closest allies, struck a similar tone in a statement to Fox News Digital. “Under President Trump’s direction, the Department of Justice will continue to partner with MPD, federal agencies, and Congress to fight violent crime in Washington, D.C., and protect everyone who lives in or visits our nation’s capital,” she said.
Trump’s allies on Capitol Hill are preparing to move quickly. Senator Lindsey Graham (R–S.C.) said he’s been in talks with Trump, Bondi, and senior White House aides about how Congress can “help make Washington, D.C., safe again.”
According to Graham, the White House intends to send a legislative package to him and Senator Katie Britt (R–Ala.), who chairs the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee. “Together, we’ll move the D.C. Security Fund through Congress,” Graham posted on X. “This is about giving President Trump the tools he needs to make the capital safe, clean, and functional—a model for the rest of America. Every citizen should support this effort.”
Sources familiar with the plan say it may include higher federal funding for local police departments, stricter sentencing laws for violent offenders, and broader powers for the Justice Department to intervene in local criminal investigations. It’s unclear whether the proposal will be attached to a broader spending measure or introduced as a standalone funding bill.
What is clear is that Trump wants quick action. “We can’t sit around for months while bureaucrats argue and people get hurt,” he said. “We’re doing what needs to be done.”
However, Congress won’t reconvene until after Labor Day—and lawmakers already face a crowded agenda. They must pass a government funding bill before September 30 and address several other priorities, including Trump’s expected request to extend his control over the D.C. police. That extension would require a joint resolution from Congress, a difficult task in a divided Senate.
Republicans largely back the president’s continued authority, claiming federal oversight is necessary to curb rising crime. Democrats, meanwhile, argue the move threatens D.C.’s limited autonomy and concentrates too much power in the White House.
“It’s not the president’s job to run a local police department,” said one Democratic aide. “This is about control, not safety.”
Despite the criticism, the administration is leaning into an image of decisive action. Citing increases in carjackings, drug crimes, and assaults, officials portray D.C. as a city “out of control” under Democratic leadership. Though some violent crime categories have declined slightly this year, public concern over safety remains high—an issue the White House is keen to exploit politically.
Bondi stressed that the plan is about visibility as much as enforcement. “People need to see that Washington is safe again,” she said. “That’s not only about arrests—it’s about presence and pride.”
Republicans in Congress have rallied around that message, viewing Trump’s D.C. initiative as a chance to brand their party as the defender of law and order, particularly in Democratic-led cities.
Senator Britt, who will help manage the funding aspect, said in a statement, “Americans deserve a capital city that mirrors the discipline and strength of the nation it represents. President Trump’s plan is about restoring that standard.”
Even some GOP strategists, however, admit the legislation faces hurdles. Budget constraints could make it difficult to approve new law enforcement funding, and Democrats are unlikely to approve extended policing powers without major compromises.
Behind closed doors, administration officials are reportedly preparing backup options—including executive actions that could reroute existing federal funds to local agencies. Those moves would likely draw legal challenges, but Trump’s team appears confident they could act unilaterally if Congress fails to act.
In D.C., reactions are mixed. Some residents welcome the prospect of more federal involvement after years of frustration with local governance. Others worry the plan could lead to heavy-handed policing and further politicization of the justice system.
“He’s not wrong that crime’s a problem,” said a downtown business owner. “But if this turns into political theater, we’re the ones who’ll suffer.”
Progressive city leaders are already pushing back. Several members of the D.C. Council have vowed to resist any attempt to override local control. One councilmember was blunt: “We don’t need a federal takeover disguised as public safety.”
For now, the White House seems unmoved by the criticism. Trump and his allies are framing the upcoming bill as a defining test of leadership—a chance to show that his administration can deliver where others failed.
“Washington, D.C., should be the safest, cleanest, and most respected capital on Earth,” Trump declared. “We’re going to make that happen—with or without the Democrats’ help.”
As Congress prepares to return, the D.C. crime bill is expected to dominate political headlines. Whether it marks a turning point in urban policy or simply another partisan clash remains uncertain—but one thing is clear: for President Trump, law and order will once again take center stage in the nation’s capital.