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FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s efforts to combat crime in Washington, D.C., include simplifying the process for law-abiding residents to obtain gun permits for self-defense, as per Fox News Digital sources.
The task force established by Trump, known as Making DC Safe and Beautiful, has significantly reduced the time it takes for residents to obtain concealed carry permits and register firearms in the city. This initiative aims to help residents navigate the firearms system more efficiently without changing existing gun laws.
“President Trump is not only addressing violent crime in Washington, D.C., but also making it easier for law-abiding residents to protect themselves and their families,” stated White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. “The Making DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force has collaborated with local authorities to eliminate long-standing obstacles, resulting in a reduction of the average permit processing time from several months to just five days.”
Thanks to the task force’s efforts, residents can now schedule next-day appointments to register their firearms with the Metropolitan Police Department, with walk-in appointments also available and promoted on the police department’s website.
Previously, individuals seeking firearms registration appointments had to wait an average of four months, according to a White House official who shared this information with Fox Digital.
President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., includes streamlining the gun permitting process for law-abiding residents looking to protect themselves. (Getty Images)
The process for obtaining concealed carry permits has also been expedited, with the time reduced from “several months” to 4.6 days, as reported by the task force’s data gathered in May and shared with Fox News Digital.
Appointments for firearm registration and concealed carry licenses have been consolidated to minimize confusion for applicants. Additionally, the District plans to introduce third-party fingerprinting services, alongside the Metropolitan Police Department’s machines, following the D.C. City Council’s decision to expand fingerprinting locations on July 28.
Washington, D.C., has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, including the requirement for concealed carry permit holders to renew their licenses every two years, restrictions on semi-automatic rifles, and rules on ammunition possession tied to firearm registration with the Metropolitan Police Department. The District also designates numerous gun-free zones, encompassing public memorials, transportation facilities, government buildings, schools, hospitals, stadiums, and areas where alcohol is sold.
President Donald Trump announced the federalization of Washington, D.C.’s police force on August 11, 2025. (Getty)
The task force established through the executive order is exploring options to enhance firearm access in the city, such as allowing female concealed carry holders to carry firearms in handbags instead of requiring them to be strapped to their bodies, as per Fox Digital sources.
Efforts are also underway to consider permitting concealed carry on public transit and establishing reciprocity for concealed carry permits issued by other states, pending approval from the D.C. City Council.
Trump’s Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force comprises members from federal agencies like the Department of the Interior, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The task force is mandated to enhance safety, beauty, and prosperity in D.C. by preventing crime, punishing offenders, maintaining order, protecting American monuments, and promoting beautification and preservation of history and heritage.
Police officers conducting a roadside checkpoint on 14th street Northwest in Washington, DC on August 13, 2025. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Trump’s executive order in March led to the federalization of the D.C. police department months later, with National Guard troops deployed to assist in maintaining law and order. Various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and DHS, have collaborated to arrest individuals and combat crime in the district.
Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, Trump assumed emergency control of the city’s police force for 30 days, describing the move as a “Liberation Day in D.C.” aimed at reclaiming the capital.
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“Under my authority as the president of the United States, I am invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” Trump stated. “I am also deploying the National Guard to restore law, order, and public safety in Washington, D.C., enabling them to fulfill their duties effectively.”
