The recent announcement from Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro to federalize policing in Washington, D.C., is a regressive move that prioritizes surveillance and control over the deeper work of community safety. True public safety is not rooted in punitive systems. It requires addressing the structural conditions that drive harm: primarily poverty, housing insecurity, underemployment (with current levels similar to the pre-Depression era), environmental injustice and a lack of opportunity. Crime rates in the United States have been steadily declining on average since the 1990s, yet policymakers continue to double down on investing in policing. The social justice and safety budget in D.C. for 2025 is $1.9 billion with 5.9 police officers per 1,000 residents, more than double the national average. Statistics show that policing does not increase safety; community resilience does. This is achieved through holistic measures for community wellness.
The preservation of home rule is central to safeguarding the District’s ability to address community needs without interference from Congress. While residents pay federal taxes and serve in the military, their locally passed laws and budget remain subject to federal oversight, which undermines democratic self-determination. Preserving and strengthening home rule ensures that decisions on public safety, housing, education and economic development are made by the people who live here and understand the city’s unique challenges, rather than by legislators with no direct accountability to D.C. voters. This fight for local autonomy is inseparable from the broader push for D.C. statehood, which would permanently protect the District’s right to govern itself.
My vision for a safer, stronger D.C. begins with investment in people. That includes programs to help justice-impacted people reduce barriers to housing and employment, and sealing records to help returning citizens live safer lives and lay the foundation for a safer community. I champion community-based programs that break down barriers to opportunity and foster leadership from within. I’ve helped create pathways out of poverty and toward long-term stability. When we invest in our most marginalized, we not only strengthen families but also reinforce the social fabric that keeps communities safe. President Trump is placing his trust in antiquated theories of over-policing.
Federalizing our police ignores the lessons of decades of community advocacy: that safety grows from stability, opportunity and trust, not from militarization. Washington, D.C., should be leading the nation in creating sustainable, equitable and community-driven models for public safety. My plan rejects fear-based politics in favor of a vision rooted in care, resilience and shared prosperity. I hope our leaders, elected or not, continue to also push back.
