TL/DR –
The Trump administration has deployed an 800-strong force of soldiers to Washington, despite statistics showing that violent crime in the city has dropped to historic lows in the past two years. The move, condemned as an authoritarian power grab, included a “massive law enforcement surge” which resulted in nearly two dozen arrests. The administration has threatened to replicate this move in other large cities.
Uniformed soldiers were deployed to Washington’s national guard headquarters on Tuesday to address crime in the capital, an event some Democrats have dismissed as political theater by Donald Trump. Despite falling crime rates in Washington over the last two years, Trump’s move to deploy an 800-strong force has raised concerns about potential replication in other cities.
Over 850 officers participated in a large-scale law enforcement surge in Washington DC on Monday, leading to nearly 24 arrests. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that this is just the start of a month-long campaign by the Trump administration to apprehend all violent criminals in Washington.
Many have criticized Trump’s actions, viewing them as an authoritarian power grab that undermines DC’s local government autonomy and distracts from issues such as the Jeffrey Epstein files.
National Guard Arrives in DC Amid Warnings of Trump Power Grab
Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington DC has promised cooperation with the federal government as National Guard troops arrive in the capital. This action follows Donald Trump’s announcement about deploying the National Guard in the city, even with violent crime rates at a 30-year low.
Trump May Further Expand National Guard’s Role in Domestic Unrest
Donald Trump may increase the use of the National Guard in US cities if a Pentagon proposal sees daylight. Washington Post reports cite Pentagon officials evaluating plans for a Domestic Civil Disturbance Quick Reaction Force, designed to respond to urban unrest or protests.
Doge Wins Right to Access Sensitive Data on Americans
A bid by a union group to stop Trump’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) from accessing sensitive American data was struck down by a US appeals court on Tuesday.
Rumored Covid Outbreak at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
An attorney reports a possible outbreak of a respiratory disease, potentially Covid-19, is spreading through a remote Florida immigration jail, known as “Alligator Alcatraz”.
For a recap, here’s what happened on 11 August 2025.
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