Rep. Julie Fedorchak, R-N.D., described her experience of being targeted by a gang of youths in the streets of Washington, D.C., during a press conference on Tuesday. Her account, which she shared outside the Capitol building, highlighted the mounting concerns over rising violence in the nation’s capital. The incident, which occurred in July, took place near her Navy Yard apartment, a neighborhood that is a focal point for members of Congress and their staff. Fedorchak recounted being struck by a plastic object on her head while she was on her phone, with a group of juveniles reportedly laughing as they gathered to witness the attack. She emphasized that this event exemplified the broader issue of a city where crime has spiraled out of control, with minimal consequences for those involved. Fedorchak’s description of the event was part of a larger conversation about the need for increased congressional action to restore safety to Washington, D.C. She praised the Trump administration’s decision to federalize the city’s police force under Section 740, calling it a crucial step in addressing the epidemic of violent youth gangs that have threatened the capital’s stability. Other Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Ron Estes and Rep. Harriet Hageman, joined her in calling for a stronger legislative response to the city’s growing crime problem. This stance coincided with ongoing discussions about the effectiveness of Trump’s recent crackdown, which has been met with mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has criticized the measures, suggesting that they are more political than practical, and that the city’s issues with crime have already been declining before the arrival of the National Guard. The divide over the situation reflects a broader debate within the U.S. Congress regarding the role of federal intervention in local matters, especially in the context of rising crime rates and calls for security measures in the capital.