Washington, D.C. has become a playground for criminals under Democrat rule.
The nation’s capital is an embarrassment to America with violent crime spiraling out of control.
And Byron Donalds forced Washington, D.C. into a corner with one crime bill that has Democrats scrambling for cover.
Byron Donalds takes aim at Washington, D.C.’s soft-on-crime disaster
Florida Congressman Byron Donalds isn’t waiting around for Washington, D.C.’s Democrat leaders to fix their crime epidemic.
The Naples Republican reintroduced his D.C. Criminal Reform to Immediately Make Everyone Safer Act – cleverly dubbed the “DC CRIMES Act” – and it’s designed to strip local officials of their ability to coddle criminals.¹
Donalds’ legislation comes after a string of horrific attacks in the nation’s capital, including the brutal beating of Edward Coristine, a Department of Government Efficiency worker known for his nickname “Big Balls,” who was allegedly attacked during a carjacking attempt by two 15-year-olds.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect.
President Donald Trump has been sounding the alarm about Washington, D.C.’s crime crisis and even floated the idea of fully federalizing the city if local leaders don’t get their act together.
“Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Local ‘youths’ and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released.”²
https://twitter.com/RepDonaldsPress/status/1954636930274185349
The President made his position crystal clear: these criminals need to face real consequences, starting at age 14.
The DC CRIMES Act would end the coddling of violent criminals
Donalds’ bill takes direct aim at the progressive policies that have turned Washington, D.C. into a crime-ridden hellscape.
The legislation would prohibit the D.C. Council from making any changes to sentencing laws – essentially removing their ability to make things even worse for law-abiding citizens.
But the real teeth of the bill focus on juvenile crime, which has exploded across the district.
Right now, Washington, D.C. allows anyone up to age 24 to be tried as a juvenile – a policy that’s absolutely insane when you consider that 24-year-olds can vote, serve in the military, and run for Congress.
Donalds’ bill would lower that threshold to 18, where it belongs in the real world.
The legislation also eliminates judicial discretion that allows youth offenders to be sentenced below mandatory minimums and mandates that the Attorney General create a public website displaying juvenile crime data so the public can see exactly how bad things have gotten.
“For far too long, our nation’s capital has been plagued by an epidemic of violence due to the soft-on-crime policies of far-left, local leaders,” Donalds said in a statement. “Weak leadership by anti-cop radicals gives rise to chaos and the reign of terror unleashed on innocent residents and visitors of our nation’s capital must end now.”³
The Florida Congressman didn’t mince words about Congress’s constitutional responsibility to step in when local government fails spectacularly.
Democrats can’t run from their soft-on-crime record
What makes this situation even more telling is that a version of the DC CRIMES Act actually passed the House in May 2024 with bipartisan support.
The vote was 225-181, with 18 Democrats breaking ranks to support the legislation – even as Joe Biden’s White House opposed it.⁴
https://twitter.com/RepDonaldsPress/status/1953878177362633053
That tells you everything you need to know about how bad the crime situation has gotten when nearly 20 Democrats were willing to buck their own party’s soft-on-crime agenda.
The bill’s reintroduction comes as Donalds runs for Florida Governor with President Trump’s endorsement, and the timing shows he’s not afraid to tackle the tough issues that matter to voters.
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna recently endorsed Donalds for Governor, calling him “an America First and Florida First patriot” who will work with Trump to protect Florida from illegal immigration and improve quality of life for seniors and veterans.⁵
Trump’s ultimatum puts pressure on Washington, D.C. leaders
President Trump’s threats to federalize Washington, D.C. if local leaders don’t address the crime crisis have added urgency to Donalds’ legislation.
“If D.C. doesn’t get its act together, and quickly, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the City, and run this City how it should be run, and put criminals on notice that they’re not going to get away with it anymore,” Trump warned on Truth Social.⁶
The President’s message was clear: the current system isn’t working, and drastic action may be necessary.
Trump emphasized that Washington, D.C. “must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see.”
It’s embarrassing that the world’s most powerful nation can’t even keep its own capital city safe for residents and visitors.
High stakes
This legislation would restore common sense to a system that has completely lost its way under Democrat leadership.
When 15-year-olds are allegedly beating government workers during carjacking attempts and facing minimal consequences, the system has failed at the most basic level.
Donalds and Trump are offering a clear alternative: real consequences for real crimes, regardless of the age of the perpetrator.
The American people deserve better than a capital city where law-abiding citizens live in fear while criminals roam free.
If Washington, D.C.’s Democrat leaders won’t protect their own constituents, Congress has both the constitutional authority and moral obligation to step in.
The DC CRIMES Act gives them that opportunity – assuming they have the backbone to use it.
¹ Emily Brooks, “Byron Donalds reintroduces DC crime bill to override local council amid Trump calls,” The Hill, August 8, 2025.
² Donald Trump, Truth Social post, August 8, 2025.
³ Byron Donalds, official statement, August 8, 2025.
⁴ Emily Brooks, “Byron Donalds reintroduces DC crime bill to override local council amid Trump calls,” The Hill, August 8, 2025.
⁵ Wendy Vasquez, “Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Backs Byron Donalds For Florida Governor,” Tampa Free Press, August 11, 2025.
⁶ Donald Trump, Truth Social post, August 8, 2025.
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Author: rgcory
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