McCabe: Trump’s D.C. Crackdown Will Have Negative Impacts on the Safety of This Country
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe expressed serious concerns on CNN about President Trump’s move to federalize Washington D.C.’s police force. He called the decision “bizarre” and questioned the lack of immediate pushback from local authorities.
McCabe highlighted the impracticality of deploying FBI agents for street patrols, a role they’re neither trained nor legally authorized to perform. “FBI agents don’t do this work,” he emphasized, noting the confusion over how they would make arrests on non-federal property.
The shift in resources, he argued, would divert agents from critical duties like counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and crimes against children. These cases, vital to national security, would inevitably be neglected.
McCabe stressed the operational risks, stating that untrained agents patrolling streets could endanger both themselves and D.C. residents. “This isn’t something the FBI can do competently or safely in its current state,” he warned.
The plan’s “opportunity cost” troubled him most—pulling agents from high-priority investigations to fill an unfamiliar role. The ripple effects, he said, could weaken broader national security efforts.
He called the move a “questionable decision” with far-reaching consequences, undermining the FBI’s core mission while failing to address D.C.’s needs effectively.
McCabe’s critique underscores a glaring mismatch between the proposal and reality, signaling potential chaos for law enforcement and public safety.
