President Trump is expected to sign as early as this week an executive order calling for tougher prosecutions for gun crimes and clearing out homeless encampments in the District, according to a media report.
The order would direct prosecutors to seek out federal charges against gun offenders, when applicable; remove homeless camps; and pursue criminal charges for other quality of life crimes, The Washington Post reported.
Exact language in the pending order has not been hammered out yet, but it appears Mr. Trump is planning to take direct action to reverse the District’s descent into the “nightmare of murder and crime” he characterized on the campaign trail.
Felons caught with guns in the nation’s capital are eligible to be held in jail without bail and severe federal penalties if convicted.
The District’s homeless population, meanwhile, has grown over the past two years. Vagrants openly camp along major roadways and busy intersections, especially around the city’s core.
In December, Mayor Muriel Bowser met with Mr. Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in South Florida to talk about their “shared priorities” involving the nation’s capital.
“President Trump and I both want Washington, DC to be the best, most beautiful city in the world and we want the capital city to reflect the strength of our nation,” Ms. Bowser posted on X shortly after the meeting.
It was an about-face for the Democratic mayor, who during his first term referred to Mr. Trump as a “scared man” and allowed “Black Lives Matter” to be painted on 16th Street NW near the White House.
The potential executive order comes as the city endures an early spike in killings to start the new year.
The Metropolitan Police Department has recorded 22 homicides, compared to 14 at this same point in 2024. That includes a fatal shooting Monday at Union Station during the evening rush hour.
Most other violent crimes — such as robberies, carjackings and weapons assaults — are below last year’s levels.
Deteriorating public safety motivated two Republican congressmen to propose repealing the District’s Home Rule Act.
The half-century-old law allows residents to elect a mayor and city council, both of which would be abolished if the bill were to become law.
• Matt Delaney can be reached at mdelaney@washingtontimes.com.