WASHINGTON — DC Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Tuesday that she wants to “work together” to implement President Trump’s directive federalizing her 3,400-officer force — hours after 850 federal agents patrolled the streets of the capital Monday night.
Smith and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, an elected Democrat, visited the Justice Department Tuesday morning for meetings with their new law enforcement supervisors, including Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terry Cole, who will oversee the MPD.
Bowser told reporters she too wanted to see “how to make the most of the additional officer support” — as the White House supplements MPD officers with a surge in personnel from federal agencies including the Border Patrol, the FBI, the DEA and US Park Police.
President Trump said Monday that crime is out of control in DC, requiring federal intervention. REUTERS
DC National Guard personnel leave Joint Force HQ’s on August 12, 2025. Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/ShutterstockNational Guard members will also have a presence on the streets of the capital, despite not being empowered to make arrests.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Tuesday afternoon that “last night, approximately 850 officers and agents were surged across the city,” adding that “they made a total of 23 arrests.”
“These arrests consisted of homicide, firearms offenses, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, fare evasion, lewd acts, stalking, possession of a high-capacity magazine, fleeing to elude in a vehicle, no permits, driving under the influence, reckless driving and a bench warrant.”
DC Police Chief Pamela Smith said she plans to work together with federal officials to drive down crime. REUTERSLeavitt also noted that six “illegal handguns” were confiscated and promised that “this is only the beginning.”
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser also said she will comply with Trump’s federalization of local police. Getty Images“Over the course of the next month, the Trump administration will relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the district who breaks the law, undermines public safety and endangers law-abiding Americans,” she said.
“He is going to make our nation’s capital the most beautiful and safe city on Earth, just like he promised on the campaign trail.”
Although Bowser clashed with Trump during his first term over policing matters, she said Tuesday that she wants to make sure that National Guard members and federal law enforcement are “being well used … to drive down crime.”
“We have more police, and we want to make sure we use them,” the mayor said.
A National Guardsman carrying a backpack crosses a street on Aug. 12. AP
National Guard troops loading supplies into vehicles on Aug. 12. APSmith was optimistic after the meeting with Cole, saying outside the Justice Department that “I think this is going to be a good effort.”
The police chief said she was particularly interested in federal help to get “illegal guns” off the streets.
“We are here to work together with our federal partners,” she added, mentioning too that federal help could be used for “pockets of crime we would like to address.”
DEA agents near the Washington Monument on August 11, 2025. Getty ImagesTrump’s Monday announcement federalizing the MPD is allowed for up to 30 days under the Home Rule Act of 1973, which allowed the district limited self-governance.
Congress must act to extend the federalization of the DC police force beyond 30 days.
In his Monday announcement, Trump cited a string of high-profile local crimes and scoffed at Bowser’s insistence that official data show violent crime is at 30-year lows, pointing to a local scandal that erupted last month over alleged pressure from MPD leaders on local district commanders to falsify crime data.






