Trump to ask Congress for ‘security fund’ to combat DC crime – Washington Examiner
The White House, under president Donald Trump, plans to request new security funding from Congress aimed at combating crime in Washington, D.C. During a visit to the Kennedy Center, Trump said he would seek a “relatively small amount of money” to improve public safety and make the city “beautiful again.” This move follows Trump’s recent actions, including deploying the National Guard to supplement local law enforcement and temporarily taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department, a measure opposed by Democrats.
Trump anticipates bipartisan support for the funding proposal, called a “D.C. security fund,” but indicated the effort would proceed regardless of opposition.Senators Lindsey Graham and Katie Britt are expected to lead the Senate efforts to advance the fund, which is intended to hire more officers and prosecutors.
Additionally, Trump expressed his desire for Congress to pass a new crime bill initially focused on Washington, D.C., and indicated plans to extend his temporary control over the city’s police beyond the current 30-day limit without congressional approval. Meanwhile, Congress faces other legislative challenges, such as addressing a $1.1 billion budget shortfall in the district.
Trump to ask Congress for ‘security fund’ to combat DC crime
The White House will ask Congress to approve new security funding for the District of Columbia as President Donald Trump intensifies his crackdown on city crime.
In a Wednesday visit to the Kennedy Center, Trump said he would request a “relatively small amount of money” for Washington, D.C. public safety, as he promised to make Washington “beautiful again.”
Trump sparked Democratic outcry on Tuesday when he sent the National Guard into the district, a move designed to supplement law enforcement. He has also taken control of the Metropolitan Police Department, a temporary authority that Democrats refuse to extend.
However, the president predicted that the spending request, dubbed a “D.C. security fund,” would be met with bipartisan cooperation in Congress and brought forward with or without their support. Republicans currently control both the House and Senate.
“We’re going to do something, and that’s going to serve as a beacon for New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and other places all over the country,” Trump said at the Kennedy Center, which he visited to announce its 2025 honorees.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) previewed the fund a few days ago after a conversation with Trump, describing it as a pool of money to hire more officers and prosecutors. He subsequently met with Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday to discuss the proposal in more depth.
The White House did not respond to a request for more details on the size and timing of the request, but Graham and Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) are slated to take the lead in ushering it through the Senate. Britt runs the Appropriations Committee’s Homeland Security panel.
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At the same event, Trump said he wants Congress to pass a new crime bill that would “initially” pertain to Washington. He also signaled he would try to extend his takeover of the district’s police force longer than the 30 days permitted without congressional approval.
The House has yet to act on separate legislation to address a $1.1 billion hole in the district’s budget. The measure, which fixes an omission in March’s government funding bill, passed the Senate and has the president’s support.
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