President Donald Trump of the United States on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at satisfying his long-held demand for increased law enforcement in Washington, DC, and expediting applications by law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.
The order establishes a task force that he mandated to surge law enforcement officers into the city, strengthen pre-trial detention of crime suspects and crack down on people who evade subway fares.
Washington DC Police Department said violent crime in 2024 was 35% lower than in 2023. For overall crime, it went down 15% in 2024 compared to 2023. For 2025, violent crime was as of this month 27% lower than in 2024 and overall crime was 9% lower than in 2024.
According to the Washington Post, in early March, the city had seen 30 homicides so far in 2025, an 11% increase year-over-year.
A White House fact sheet said Trump's aim is to make Washington DC what it should be- the pride of every American to whom it belongs.
Trump has long complained about homeless encampments and crime in the capital.
His order established a task force made up of officials from various government agencies to take his demands on board, including deporting illegal migrants.
According to the US Concealed Carry Association, residents and non-residents, who are at least 21 years old and take a firearms training course, can obtain concealed carry licenses.
