In a bold move, U.S. President Donald Trump on September 25, 2025, signed a presidential memorandum directing federal prosecutors to more aggressively pursue the death penalty in criminal cases within Washington, D.C. Under the order, the Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney for D.C. are instructed to seek capital punishment “in all appropriate cases” and to push for federal jurisdiction over crimes in the District when possible, even though D.C. itself repealed capital punishment in 1981.
The White House frames the move as part of a broader “tough on crime” strategy. According to a White House fact sheet, the Order aims to deter “heinous crimes” and protect public safety by ensuring violent criminals in the nation’s capital face the “toughest consequences” under federal law.  The memorandum builds on an earlier executive order (Executive Order 14164) signed on Trump’s first day back in office, which sought to restore more active use of the federal death penalty nationwide. 
Critics have raised concerns, calling the move a power grab that overrides local governance and could provoke serious legal challenges.  They warn it may conflict with constitutional due process protections and the home-rule authority of Washington, D.C.
The timing is notable. Under the previous administration, a moratorium had been placed on federal executions. Moreover, President Joe Biden, before leaving office, commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates to life imprisonment. 
As of now, the new order specifically targets D.C. cases, but it has broader implications—especially in how prosecutors may seek to shift local cases into the federal system to apply capital sentences.
(Source: Reuters)
