In a significant move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, directing the establishment of specialized units within the National Guard to combat crime in Washington DC and potentially other American cities. The order, which can be reviewed [here](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/08/additional-measures-to-address-the-crime-emergency-in-the-district-of-columbia/), authorizes the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, to deploy these units under [Title 32 of the US Code](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/32), aimed at quelling civil disturbances and restoring public safety.

This directive comes shortly after Trump’s controversial decision to place DC's local police force under federal control, an action that has spurred debate about its constitutionality and necessity, especially given the city’s decreasing crime rates since 2023. The new order goes further, empowering not only the National Guard but also the US Park Police and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia to expand their workforce to address the so-called crime emergency.

During a [press conference](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlPfxyCnxHg) where he officially announced the initiative, Trump emphasized the role of these specialized units in maintaining order, stating, “It charges federal law enforcement agencies with hiring additional personnel to allow them to surge personnel to Washington DC to deal with the current emergency.” He also criticized current policies in DC that he believes hinder police effectiveness, instructing the Attorney General to review and possibly reverse these policies.

Critics argue that the crime statistics do not support the necessity of such drastic measures. Violent crime in the capital had reached a 30-year low just before Trump took office, raising questions about the timing and motivation behind these orders. Furthermore, Trump’s remarks during the press conference suggested a political undertone to the decisions, as he lambasted Democratic leadership in other states, notably Illinois, for their governance and policies.

The broader implication of these executive orders, as highlighted by [CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/25/politics/trump-executive-order-national-guard-units-crime), is the potential use of federal military power to enforce law in Democrat-run cities across the country, sparking fears of politicized use of the military in domestic affairs. This development continues to unfold as the nation watches closely how these specialized National Guard units will be utilized in the capital and beyond. For more details, you can read the original report on [JURIST - News](https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/08/trump-orders-specialized-national-guard-units-to-enforce-public-safety-and-order-in-us-cities/).