The Justice Department on Wednesday sharply criticized the Washington, D.C., City Council for its members' efforts to have National Guard troops removed from the city, accusing them of ignoring significant public safety gains.
In a letter addressed to council members, Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald dismissed their requests as "impotent theatrics" and asserted that the council has no authority to demand governors recall their troops. The council had sent letters to governors in ten states last month, urging them to bring home their National Guard members now that the 250th anniversary celebrations have concluded.
McDonald, who oversees the Justice Department's Office of Legal Policy, wrote that the council's actions were politically motivated and lacked legal standing. He emphasized that the National Guard presence has contributed to a safer capital, noting that crime statistics are likely underreported and that the murder rate has declined since the deployment began in August 2025.
He further claimed that the deployment has coincided with a broader revitalization of the city, including improvements to historic sites, public spaces, and commercial districts. "You should withdraw your letters and dedicate your remaining time in public service to correcting D.C.'s laws to ensure criminals are punished and the public is protected – not the other way around," McDonald wrote, offering his office's assistance.
The exchange comes as the Trump administration marks one year since the President ordered National Guard troops into the capital. On Tuesday, FBI Director Kash Patel touted the operation's results on social media, citing 6,121 arrests, nearly 2,000 drug seizures, over 1,300 illegal firearms confiscated, and a 44 percent drop in homicides.
President Trump has also lashed out at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, after it released a report suggesting violent crime was already declining before the pandemic. Trump threatened a lawsuit against the organization, calling its authors "liars." The report's author, Chandler Hall, defended the findings on C-SPAN, saying it was "unfortunate" that Trump continues to claim credit for public safety trends that predate his policies.
The CAP report estimated the National Guard deployment has cost $1.7 billion so far, with projections of an additional $1.4 billion through 2029, according to the Washington Post. These costs have fueled criticism from council members who argue the resources could be better spent on community-based safety initiatives.
This dispute reflects broader tensions between the federal government and the District's elected leaders over public safety strategy. For more on the administration's approach to crime, see Trump's attack on the CAP report. The political stakes are also evident in other arenas, such as the Maine Senate race, where local issues intersect with national narratives.
The DC Council has not yet responded publicly to McDonald's letter, but the clash highlights the ongoing friction between local governance and federal oversight in the nation's capital.
