The federal government is stepping up its control of Washington, D.C., combining crime-fighting measures with sweeping efforts to revitalize the city’s public spaces. From taking over management of Union Station, to deploying National Guard troops for both patrol and beautification, to floating billions in funding for cleanup projects, the White House is exerting an unprecedented level of authority over the nation’s capital.
A new poll also shows most Americans see crime in big cities as a serious problem — a context that could embolden President Donald Trump as he presses forward with the campaign to reshape Washington amid local pushback.
Union Station takeover
The U.S. Transportation Department is moving to take control of Washington’s Union Station, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday. The announcement came just hours before the unveiling of new Acela trains.
Duffy said the department would work with the Union Station Redevelopment Corp., which oversees the property, and Amtrak, which leases space in the station. Under the new structure, Amtrak will continue running the passenger areas while USRC manages the retail side.
“Instead of being a point of pride, Washington’s Union Station has fallen into disrepair,” Duffy said in a press release. “By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost.”
The move follows a broader pattern of the White House asserting federal authority in the District, where National Guard troops and federal officers have patrolled since Trump declared a public safety emergency earlier in August.
Troops take on beautification duties
More than 2,200 National Guard members have been deployed across Washington since the Aug. 11 declaration. While initially mobilized to assist police with crime enforcement, their duties have expanded to include trash pickup, graffiti removal and landscaping projects across federal property.
Joint Task Force-D.C., which oversees Guard operations in the city, said service members are engaged in over 40 “beautification projects” identified with the help of federal and local agencies. That work includes sprucing up the National Mall, resodding parks, and improving public areas that federal officials say had fallen into neglect.
Trump floats $2 billion city cleanup budget
Trump said last week he would seek $2 billion from Congress to support crime-fighting and beautification efforts in the capital.
“We’re going to be raising about $2 billion from Congress. Congress is happy to do it, and we’re going to wisely spend the money,” Trump told reporters Friday.
The president said funding would target new pavers, roadwork and restoration of green spaces throughout federal parks in the city. While some Republicans have echoed support for the idea, lawmakers have yet to introduce a formal proposal.
New polling over crime in major cities
The president’s actions come as concerns about crime remain high nationwide, according to new polling. According to a new AP-NORC poll, 81% of U.S. adults see crime in large cities as a “major problem.” That includes 68% of Democrats, 72% of independents and 96% of Republicans.
Trump has leaned heavily on the issue of public safety. His decision to expand federal control in Washington and deploy troops to the streets and parks plays directly into those concerns — and could serve as a model he has hinted at extending to other major, Democrat-controlled cities. That plan has been met with pushback from leaders in those areas.