Washington, D.C., has witnessed a significant escalation in federal anti-crime operations, with 40 new arrests announced Thursday, pushing the total number of suspects arrested since the Trump administration’s crackdown to 719. Among these arrests, a suspected member of the notorious Salvadoran street gang MS-13 was apprehended, along with the seizure of illegal firearms. This marks a critical step in the administration’s efforts to address crime in the nation’s capital, a task that has seen substantial involvement from both civilian and military resources.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, addressing the latest developments on Friday, highlighted the importance of the Trump administration’s role in ensuring D.C.’s safety. Her remarks underscored the growing impact of the crackdown, which began on August 11 when the administration began federalizing the city’s police force. Bondi credited President Donald Trump for his “unwavering support” in making D.C. a safer place, emphasizing the administration’s ongoing commitment to public safety and law enforcement.
The federalization effort has mobilized approximately 800 National Guard troops, alongside federal agencies such as the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ICE, and the DEA. Since the crackdown began, there has been a steady, if not dramatic, increase in arrests, with the number of suspects apprehended rising to 719. The pace of arrests has been particularly notable, with 530 arrested in just over a week, averaging nearly 76 per day. These arrests include individuals charged with a range of offenses, from homicide and drug trafficking to the possession of illegal firearms and child sex crimes.
As the number of criminal cases in D.C. continues to rise, the Trump administration has announced the deployment of military lawyers to assist in the prosecution. Specifically, 20 Judge Advocate General (JAG) attorneys will be assigned to handle these cases, according to U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pir, who welcomed the decision as testimony to the administration’s focus on combating crime. The involvement of military attorneys represents a significant and symbolic shift in the approach to justice, reflecting the administration’s prioritization of law and order in the nation’s capital.
Beyond the arrests and the legal proceedings, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating suspicious activity related to the city’s crime statistics. This investigation follows the suspension of city police Commander Michael Pulliam in mid-May for alleged manipulation of data in his patrol district. The DOJ’s inquiry adds another layer of complexity to the current situation, highlighting the potential for systemic issues within the city’s approach to crime reporting and policing.