President Donald Trump speaks during an event at the Kennedy Center on Aug. 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Trump went on to confirm that his administration would be seeking "long-term extensions" to the 30-day limit.
"You can't have 30 days," he said. "We're going to do this very quickly, but we're going to want extensions. I don't want to call a national emergency, but if I have to I will."
TRUMP'S PLAN TO DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD IN DC SPARKS BACKLASH FROM RESIDENTS—BUT SOME WELCOME IT
Trump announced his D.C. crime and homelessness crackdown last week, calling in the National Guard and federal law enforcement in addition to federalizing the MPD.
Law enforcement has arrested more than 100 people since Aug. 7, which includes 43 who were arrested Tuesday, a White House official told Fox Digital Wednesday morning. The arrests are part of Trump’s March executive order, which established the Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force, ahead of Trump's Monday announcement federalizing the D.C. police department.
FBI and Border Patrol officers arrest a man along the U Street corridor during a federal law enforcement deployment to the nation's capital on August 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
"Seventy homeless encampments have been removed by the U.S. Park Police," Leavitt said, adding that the Metropolitan Police Department would be joining the Park Police in the effort. "There are only two homeless encampments remaining in D.C. federal parks under the National Park Service's jurisdiction, and the removal of those two remaining camps is scheduled for this week."
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Leavitt added that those who refuse homeless shelters and care could be faced with jail time.
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report
Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to Anders.Hagstrom@Fox.com, or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-warns-he-may-bypass-congress-national-emergency-keep-dc-police-control-beyond-30-days