Has Crime in Washington DC Decreased After Trump's Crackdown?

Sun Sep 14 2025 02:49:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In the two weeks following Donald Trump's crackdown on crime in Washington DC, early statistics suggest a reduction in violent crime, while the impact on arrests and the judicial system continues to develop.

Donald Trump asserts that crime has significantly dropped in Washington DC since his administration's extensive law enforcement measures began on August 11. Preliminary data shows a 23% decrease in violent crime, and over 1,000 arrests recorded. However, analysts caution that the figures should be interpreted with care, as crime reporting often lags and the judicial system is facing increased pressures. Critics are questioning the effectiveness and implications of the crackdown.

Has Crime in Washington DC Decreased After Trump's Crackdown?

Alongside the taxis waiting outside Union Station in Washington DC, the sight of uniformed troops standing next to armoured military vehicles has been greeting passengers getting off their trains.

It is a striking symbol of President Trump's efforts to tackle a crime emergency in the US capital, which has seen his administration take over its police department and send National Guard troops, FBI and ICE agents on to the streets.

Trump says his crime crackdown, which began on 11 August, has had an immediate effect: The numbers are down like we wouldn't believe, but we believe it.

And he has claimed that it has led to an extended period without any murders, a trend he says has not been seen in the city in decades. So what do the crime figures show?

Violent crime has fallen

There has been a significant fall in overall violent crime since the crackdown started, according to Washington's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It recorded 75 violent crimes from 12-26 August, a drop of 23% on the previous two weeks.

Property crimes, such as burglary and vehicle theft, fell by about a quarter over the same period.

There was a smaller fall in the crime of assault with a dangerous weapon and an increase in recorded sexual abuse cases.

US crime analyst Jeff Asher cautions that this may not reveal the whole picture. Reporting [of crime] always lags, so some of that decline is likely artificial. You probably need six weeks or so for incident-based reporting to catch up and make a comparison of the most recent period, he explains.

The MPD figures also show violent crime has decreased in the city over the past fortnight when compared to the same period last year.

Trump has frequently criticized police figures, which showed violent crime decreasing in 2024 and early 2025, but there's no evidence he has publicly rejected the latest data showing a continued decline during his crackdown.

More than 1,000 people arrested

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been posting a daily tally of arrests since the DC takeover started. On August 25, she reported there have been 1,007 arrests. However, no detailed breakdown has been provided.

The MPD stated that from August 11 to August 25, 2025, it made 1,048 arrests, though it also did not give a breakdown.

Critics highlight that citing arrest figures as the sole measure of success in combating crime can be misleading. Even with arrests leading to charges, prosecutions are not guaranteed.

Pressure on the court system

During a recent visit to DC's District Court, it was clear that the impact of increased arrests and charges was significant. Defendants are now facing federal offenses that usually result in longer prison sentences.

Lawyers reported that the court is struggling to manage a larger caseload, and Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui stated that the criminal justice system in DC was not keeping up with the surge in federal prosecutions. He expressed concern about extended detainment times for suspects.

Assistant Federal Defender Tezira Abe pointed out that her client, Darious Phillips, was evidently a victim of the federal agents' incursions in DC, arrested under serious charges and awaiting a plea.

In conclusion, while the statistics suggest an initial decline in crime, the broader implications and effects of the crackdown are still evolving and merit ongoing scrutiny.