The United States President Donald Trump issued an executive order Thursday to expedite law-abiding citizens’ applications to carry concealed handguns and to fulfill his long-standing demand for more police enforcement in Washington, DC.
The order establishes a task force that he mandated to surge law enforcement officers into the city, strengthen pre-trial detention of crime suspects, and crack down on people who evade subway fares.
The Washington DC Police Department said violent crime in 2024 was 35% lower than in 2023. For overall crime, it went down 15% in 2024 compared to 2023. For 2025, violent crime was, as of this month, 27% lower than in 2024, and overall crime was 9% lower than in 2024.
According to the Washington Post, in early March, the city had seen 30 homicides so far in 2025, an 11% increase year-over-year.
A White House fact sheet said Trump’s aim is to make Washington, DC, what it should be—the pride of every American to whom it belongs.
Trump has long complained about homeless encampments and crime in the capital.
His order established a task force made up of officials from various government agencies to take his demands on board, including deporting illegal migrants.
According to the US Concealed Carry Association, residents and non-residents who are at least 21 years old and take a firearms training course can obtain concealed carry licenses.
Written By Matthew Atungwu