WASHINGTON—Heritage Action, a conservative grassroots organization with 2.5 million activists nationwide, today announced support for legislation advanced by the U.S. House Oversight Committee to crack down on rampant crime in Washington, D.C. Heritage Action, with policy recommendations from leading crime experts at The Heritage Foundation, is working with lawmakers to promote key provisions and bills to make D.C. safe again.
Heritage Action Executive Vice President Tiffany Justice today released the following statement in support of the efforts on Capitol Hill:
“Under leftist policies, D.C. crime spiralled to unprecedented levels, hurting families across the region. It doesn’t have to be this way. Since President Trump took action in August, there was a 39% drop in violent crime, a shocking 75% decrease in carjackings, 53% decrease in homicides, and 57% decrease in robberies.
“The statistics speak for themselves. Our once-beautiful American cities must be restored, starting with Washington—which belongs to all Americans. Lawmakers should pass commonsense bills that provide an essential blueprint for cities nationwide to reverse the pro-criminal policies the Left has used to destroy our communities.”
Heritage Action notified lawmakers of support and endorsed the D.C. Crimes Act of 2025 (H.R. 4922) and the District of Columbia Policing Protection Act of 2025 (H.R. 5143). In addition to those two bills, Heritage urges lawmakers to pass legislation that:
Cracks down on vehicular crime,
Holds the D.C. City Council accountable,
Manages the unprecedented homeless crisis,
Strengthens crime laws to stop charging adults as minors,
Strikes against the radical 2022 D.C. anti-police criminal justice law to grant officers more freedom in their line of duty, and
Allows the President to appoint the D.C. Attorney General, among other issues.
Charles “Cully” Stimson, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for D.C. and deputy director of the Edwin Meese III Center, also released a statement:
“D.C. is out of step with the rest of the country on holding violent juveniles accountable. Twenty-five states authorize violent youths 14-years old or older to be charged as adults. Ten states authorize violent youths younger than 14 years old to be charged as adults. And three states allow youths as young as 12 years old to be charged as adults for the most violent crimes.
“D.C. is also out of step in not allowing law enforcement officers to pursue fleeing suspects, which has created an incentive for lawbreakers to flee the police and endangering the community. It’s time for Congress to bring D.C. into line with common sense criminal justice reforms. This is the first step in that direction.”
Tough on crime policies work—and they work quickly. As of Sept. 10, there have been more than 2,409 total arrests since President Donald J. Trump’s initial crackdown on D.C. crime, including drug seizures, gun recoveries, and detainment of criminal illegal aliens. Congress must codify this work with meaningful legislation.
Heritage Action thanks House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer for his important work to codify the much-needed change that President Trump promised Americans on the campaign trail.
Heritage Action and its millions of conservative activists nationwide will hold lawmakers accountable for their work to advance the policies that protect, promote, and defend the interests of everyday Americans, both in our nation's capital and across the country.
Background:
The Heritage Foundation: A Week Without Murder: Trump’s Crackdown Restores Safety to Washington, D.C.
The Heritage Foundation: Does D.C. Have Standing to Sue the Federal Government? Probably Not.
The Heritage Foundation: I Live in D.C. I’m Glad Trump Sent In the National Guard To Fight Crime
The Heritage Foundation: Why D.C. Remains One of the Nation’s Most Dangerous Cities
The White House: Yes, D.C. Crime Is Out of Control
The White House: Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets
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