WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, a renewed push for a “comprehensive crime bill,” signaling a focus on domestic law and order as the 2026 midterm elections approach. In a Truth Social post, Trump revealed he is working closely with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, both Republicans, to craft the legislation. “Speaker Mike Johnson, and Leader John Thune, are working with me, and other Republicans, on a Comprehensive Crime Bill. It’s what our Country needs,” Trump wrote, according to Reuters.
The announcement follows Trump’s recent moves to assert federal authority over local policing, including a controversial takeover of Washington, D.C.’s police force earlier this month. Citing what he calls a “wave of lawlessness,” Trump has deployed over 2,000 National Guard troops to the capital, with some authorized to carry weapons on patrol. He has also threatened to extend similar measures to Democrat-led cities like Chicago and Baltimore, a plan that has drawn sharp criticism. “It’s not a war zone. They’re vibrant, resilient communities,” Bradly Johnson of BUILD Chicago told the Associated Press, emphasizing local progress in reducing crime.
Key elements of Trump’s crime agenda include:
- Eliminating cashless bail, with executive orders signed Monday targeting reforms in D.C. and nationwide.
- Expanding National Guard deployments, with 800 troops currently active in D.C. to support law enforcement.
- Proposing long-term federal control over D.C.’s police, requiring Congressional approval to extend beyond 30 days.
Critics, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, have labeled the moves an “authoritarian push,” pointing to federal data showing violent crime in the capital at a 30-year low in 2024. “This is a manufactured intrusion on local authority,” the D.C. Council stated, citing a 35% drop in violent crime last year. Legal experts, like University of Pennsylvania’s Claire Finkelstein, argue that extending federal control without Congressional approval lacks legal grounding. Meanwhile, Trump claims early success, with a White House official reporting 1,000 arrests and 111 firearm seizures in D.C. since the takeover. As the Senate and House prepare to reconvene on September 2, the proposed bill faces hurdles, needing Democratic support in the Senate to pass.
Source: Reuters
