Trump threatens to ‘federalize’ DC after attack on Doge staffer

US president cites youth crime in call to strip the capital of local rule, despite declining violence and local opposition

Donald Trump is threatening to strip Washington DC of its local governance and place the US capital under direct federal control, citing what he described as rampant youth crime following an alleged assault on a federal employee who worked for the so-called department of government efficiency" (Doge).

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the president said he would federalize" the city if local authorities failed to address crime, specifically calling for minors as young as 14 to be prosecuted as adults.