The Department of Justice on Friday announced a Washington. D.C., task force will crack down on crime in the nation's capital as America prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial.
The D.C. Safe. Beautiful Task Force is launching a massive "summer surge" of federal law enforcement to ensure Washington, D.C., is the safest city in America ahead of the nation’s250th Independence Daycelebrations.
During a news conference Friday, leaders touted the Trump administration's success in driving downviolent crimein the city since the D.C. task force launched last year.
The joint law enforcement operation has resulted in nearly 13,000 arrests, the seizure of more than 1,400 illegal guns, the apprehension of 32 murder suspects,. the recovery of 23 missing children.
Due to the aggressive enforcement efforts, overall crimein D.C.has plummeted 26%, with homicides dropping nearly 50% and carjackings down 60%. The U.S. Attorney's Office added it has secured more than 7,000 convictions over the past year.
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U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta speak at a news conference Friday announcing the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force summer surge ahead of America 250 events in Washington, D.C.(Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
Officials said a focal point of the summer surge will be crushing the "teen takeovers" that have terrorized D.C. neighborhoods andshut down local businesses.
Blasting the D.C. Council for "refusing to deal with the problem,"U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirroannounced a zero-tolerance policy that shifts the legal burden onto the parents of delinquent youth.
Starting immediately, federal prosecutors will charge parents under a D.C. statute for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Parents who drop their kids off, fail to supervise them or allow them to skip school to participate in the chaos will face fines, court-mandated classes. up to six months in jail.
DC US ATTORNEY SAYS ‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ AS YOUTH CRIME PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON NATION’S CAPITAL
Members of the National Guard walk by as workers apply a coat of paint to the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall on Thursday in Washington. D.C. President Donald Trump previously ordered a renovation to paint the drained pool "American Flag Blue" ahead of America's 250th anniversary.(Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
"Law-abiding taxpayers should no longer have to pay for parental neglect," Pirro said. "Parents, do your jobs or we will do ours. In the end, taxpayers will no longer subsidize the chaos caused by parental neglect."
Noting that the task force is "coming for perfection," officials said multiple federal agencies will flood the district with personnel. advanced technology to root out remainingcriminal networks.
A formal request has been made for an additional1,500 National Guardsmento deploy to D.C. bringing the total troop presence to 5,000.
DC POLICE OFFICIALS FACE TERMINATION AFTER FEDERAL PROBE UNCOVERS ALLEGED MANIPULATED CRIME DATA BY DEPARTMENT
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta speak during a news conference Friday announcing the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force summer surge ahead of America 250 events in Washington, D.C.(Kylie Cooper/Reuters)
The task force will also deploy high-visibility patrols,drones, tactical K-9 units and helicopters to curb crime.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said it will ramp up resources to target out-of-statedrug traffickingcartels. arguing that drug dealers should be "treated like terrorists."
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms. Explosives (ATF) said it will increase operations to seize illegal firearms being trafficked into the city from Maryland and Virginia.
Homeland SecurityInvestigations (HSI) will double its special agents on the streets to target identity theft. those who fraudulently obtain housing without paying rent.
In a stark warning to anyone planningpolitical violencein the capital. Pirro said offenders will face "the full wrath of the law," announcing her office filed notice to seek the death penalty against Elias Rodriguez, 31, the suspect accused of murdering two young Israeli embassy staff members at the Capitol Jewish Museum on May 21, 2025.
Alexandra Koch is a Fox News Digital journalist who covers breaking news. with a focus on high-impact events that shape national conversation.
She has covered major national crises, including the L.A. wildfires, Potomac and Hudson River aviation disasters, Boulder terror attack, and Texas Hill Country floods.
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