Lawmakers are preparing for a forthcoming crime bill from the White House as President Donald Trump continues his efforts to combat crime in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, Trump signaled that he would soon send a legislative package to Congress aimed at advancing his administration’s goal of making the district a “beacon” for other blue cities, though he offered few specifics on what the proposal might include.
“We think the Democrats will not do anything to stop crime, but we think the Republicans will do it almost unanimously,” Trump said, according to Fox News. “So we’re going to need a crime bill that we’re going to be putting in, and it’s going to pertain initially to D.C.”
He also noted that “we’re going to seek a relatively small amount of money” to fix streets and generally spruce up the district.
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he had spoken with the president, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and White House staff about “how Congress can help make Washington, D.C., safe again.”
“At the direction of President Trump, this Department of Justice will continue to work with MPD, federal law enforcement and Congress to address the scourge of violent crime in Washington, D.C. and ensure the safety of all Americans visiting or living in our Nation’s capital,” Bondi told Fox News Digital in a statement.
Graham said the White House is preparing a package to send to him and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who chairs the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee.
“Together, we will try to shepherd the D.C. Security Fund through Congress to give President Trump the resources he will need to improve the safety and quality of life in our nation’s capital,” Graham said on X. “Every American should be behind this effort to make Washington D.C. clean and safe so that it can truly become the shining city on the hill.”
It remains unclear whether the package will be folded into a spending bill or introduced as a standalone supplemental funding measure, as well as when lawmakers will actually receive the request.
Congress is not scheduled to return until after Labor Day, when members will immediately face the looming Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government. They will also need to address an anticipated request from Trump to extend his control over the D.C. police — authority he holds for only 30 days unless Congress grants an extension through a joint resolution.
Republicans largely back giving Trump more time to tackle crime in the Capitol, but passing a joint resolution would likely require 60 Senate votes — and Democrats are signaling they won’t allow him to further tighten his control over Washington, Fox noted.
Trump has hinted that he might declare a national emergency to bypass Congress, a move that some congressional Republicans have already endorsed.
As for Democrats, they appear to be comfortable with allowing the residents of Washington, D.C., to continue to be victimized by crime.
“He is doing nothing but creating chaos and ignoring the progress local officials in D.C. have made lowering crime,” Durbin said. “And now, he is saying he wants to side-step Congress to extend control of the MPD. There are currently no ‘special conditions of an emergency nature’ in D.C., which the President has to claim in order to take federal control of MPD under the Home Rule Act. This is unprecedented and nothing more than a power grab.”
On Thursday, Bondi issued a two-page order rescinding illegal immigration protections in Washington, D.C., and appointing an “emergency police commissioner” to lead the city’s Metropolitan Police Department.
The order, titled Restoring Safety and Security to the District of Columbia, primarily targets the capital’s sanctuary city policies, nullifying any directives that restrict Metropolitan Police officers from taking action or engaging with illegal immigrants during interactions and incidents.
DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration over its moves to take over the city’s police department, CNN noted.