FBI Director Kash Patel announced Tuesday that the bureau has made 10 arrests during the first night of President Donald Trump’s federal initiative to address crime in the nation’s capital.
The arrests were part of the administration’s broader effort to “make D.C. safe again,” launched earlier this week.
In a post on X, Patel detailed the arrests, which included charges of prior murder, unlawful possession of firearms, multiple outstanding warrants for driving under the influence, and violation of a restraining order.
“These are just a few examples — we are just getting started,” Patel wrote.
“Federal partners joined local police and arrested 23 in total. When you let good cops be cops they can clean up our streets and do it fast.”
He concluded with, “More to come. Your nation’s Capital WILL be safe again.”
The announcement came one day after Trump declared “Liberation Day” for Washington, D.C., placing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) under federal control and activating the National Guard.
The move invokes Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, granting the president the authority to assume control of the city’s police force in certain circumstances.
“This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump said at a White House press briefing on Monday.
“We’re taking it back under the authorities vested in me as the president of the United States. I’m officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.”
The president said that roughly 800 National Guard troops would be mobilized to support MPD with logistics, transportation, and guarding federal and law enforcement facilities.
The federalization is expected to last 30 days, with Attorney General Pam Bondi overseeing the MPD during that period. Trump emphasized that the troops would be “allowed to do their job properly.”
The FBI is among several federal agencies participating in the operation, working alongside the National Guard and local police.
Federal officials say the joint effort aims to increase law enforcement presence in high-crime neighborhoods and address outstanding warrants.
The decision has faced opposition from some local leaders and critics who argue the federal takeover is unnecessary.
They point to city statistics showing a drop in reported crime over the past year.
However, some law enforcement officials have questioned the accuracy of those figures.
Last month, a Washington, D.C., police commander was suspended after alleging that MPD Chief Pamela Smith and other top officials had manipulated crime data.
Trump had first raised the possibility of federalizing D.C.’s police force during his 2024 presidential campaign, citing concerns about rising crime.
The issue resurfaced earlier this month when a Department of Government Efficiency staffer was attacked by several juveniles in the city.
Trump cited that incident as evidence of unsafe conditions and pledged immediate action.
The administration has said it will provide further updates on the progress of the operation in the coming days.
For now, federal officials say the initial results underscore the ability of coordinated law enforcement efforts to deliver swift arrests and restore public safety.
