Teenagers in Washington D.C. say the federal police takeover makes them feel unsafe

Source: NPR

August 16, 2025 6:00 AM ET


WASHINGTON — Marek Deca arrived here earlier this month for his first year of college at Howard University. "It's a new environment away from home, away from family. You're already going to feel some type of way," the 18-year-old said. Deca says he expected to feel nervous about normal freshman stuff, like his classes and making friends.

He did not expect to feel nervous about all the federal forces roaming the city. He said he has seen federal police officers patrolling near Howard's campus, and that feels unsafe. "We're young, we want to go outside, we want to have fun in a new area and we're afraid to go out because we're afraid, one wrong step, one wrong move, off the crosswalk and I'm getting flagged down for something," he said.

That fear began Monday with President Trump's announcement that he was sending in the National Guard and taking over the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. On Friday, D.C. officials fought back.

The Attorney General for the district sued the federal government, saying Trump's actions amounted to a hostile takeover. Late Friday, after pressure from a federal judge, the Justice Department withdrew its bid to name an "emergency police chief" and said — at least for now — Washington's police chief will keep control of the D.C. police force. Caught in the middle of all this are the district's young people.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/16/nx-s1-5501528/federal-police-takeover-washington-dc-teenagers