President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would ask Congress to extend the 30-day limit on his takeover of D.C. police as federal agents ramp up arrests in the nation’s capital.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference at the Kennedy Center, Trump was asked if he would seek to keep National Guard troops and federal agents in D.C. past the initial 30-day limit under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. To extend his federalization of the D.C. police, Congress would need to issue a joint resolution approving of that move.

“We expect to be before Congress very quickly,” Trump said. “And again, we think the Democrats will not do anything to stop crime, but we think the Republicans will do it almost unanimously.”

The president added that Congress will need to pass a crime bill that will “pertain initially to D.C.,” adding that he would ask for “long-term extensions” of his federalization of the police force. He argued that while the federal government would work quickly to address violent crime in D.C., 30 days wasn’t long enough.

“We’re going to do this very quickly, but we’re going to want extensions,” Trump said. “I don’t want to call a national emergency. If I have to, I will.”

REPORTER: Your federalization of the police has a 30 day limit unless Congress acts to extend it…@POTUS: “We expect to be before Congress very quickly… We’re going to need a crime bill… We’re going to be asking for extensions on that—long-term extensions.” pic.twitter.com/SRuIWBGTHq

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 13, 2025

Republicans would likely approve Trump’s request to extend the 30-day limit. Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) have voiced support for Trump’s D.C. takeover, The Daily Wire previously reported.

“I’m grateful for [Trump’s] leadership and for this administration’s commitment to protecting communities large and small across America. Washington, D.C., should be a place where people can safely live, visit, work, and raise a family, and today’s announcement is a positive step in that direction,” said Thune.

Johnson added, “Every American should be able to visit and enjoy Washington, D.C. without fear. House Republicans support this effort to CLEAN UP Washington, END the crime wave, and RESTORE the beauty of the greatest capital in the world.”

Democrats are united in their opposition to Trump’s federalization of D.C. law enforcement, with Democratic House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) calling the president’s move an “unjustified power grab” and claiming that it will put people “in danger.”

“President Trump’s plan to federalize Washington, D.C.’s local police department and unleash the National Guard on the city’s youth and homeless population has no basis in law and will put the safety of the people of our Nation’s capital in danger,” Jeffries said in a press release.

Since last week, federal agents in D.C. have arrested over 100 people, including arrests on homicide, firearms, and drug charges, according to Fox News.

Federal authorities have arrested over 100 people in Washington, D.C., since last Thursday as President Donald Trump sends in the National Guard and federalizes D.C. police to crack down on violent crime in the nation’s capital.

Of the 103 people arrested by the feds since last week, 43 were detained on Tuesday, Fox News reported, citing a White House official. Along with hundreds of National Guard troops, agents with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Capitol Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have also descended upon the capital to help enforce Trump’s D.C. “Liberation Day” operation.

“President Trump’s bold leadership is quickly making our nation’s capital safer,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News. “In less than one week, over 100 violent criminals have already been arrested and taken off of the streets in Washington, D.C. President Trump is delivering on his campaign promise to clean up this city and restore American Greatness to our cherished capital.”

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FBI Director Kash Patel said on Tuesday that the bureau was involved in 10 arrests with law enforcement partners in “the first big push” of Trump’s violent crime crackdown. The FBI arrests included one “on a search warrant for a prior murder charge,” multiple arrests for unlawful possession of firearms, multiple arrests of suspects with outstanding warrants for DUI, and an arrest for violating a restraining order, according to Patel.

“These are just a few examples — we are just getting started. 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,” the FBI director added. “More to come. Your nation’s Capital WILL be safe again.”

Five armored personnel carriers were seen parked near the Washington Monument on Tuesday, CNN reported. A White House official said that federal agents and the Metropolitan Police Department “will continue focusing on high traffic areas and other known hotspots.”

Just hours after Trump announced the crackdown on violent crime, a 33-year-old man was shot and killed in D.C.’s Logan Circle, which is just one mile from the White House and is described as one of D.C.’s more popular neighborhoods. The fatal shooting marked D.C.’s 100th homicide of 2025.

White House Press Secretary said during a press briefing on Tuesday that around 850 officers and agents “were surged across the city” on Monday night, and made 23 arrests, which included arrests on homicide, firearms, and drug charges. Trump announced that he was federalizing D.C. police and deploying the National Guard on Monday morning, but federal agents were already out on the capital’s streets making arrests late last week.

The president is using section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to declare an emergency and take control of the Metropolitan Police Department for up to 30 days. If Trump wants to extend his control of D.C. police beyond 30 days, Congress would need to step in and pass a joint resolution that authorizes an extension, The Daily Wire previously reported. The GOP-controlled House and Senate would likely grant Trump’s request to maintain control over the capital’s law enforcement.