The Republican-led House on Tuesday passed two bills aimed at reducing juvenile crime in Washington, D.C., with two more measures expected for a vote on Wednesday. One of the bills, the D.C. CRIMES Act, lowers the age limit for being tried as a juvenile from 24 to 18 and mandates adult-level sentences for certain offenses. It also requires the city to publish public data on youth crime.

The second bill, the Juvenile Sentencing Reform Act, allows minors as young as 14 to be tried as adults for serious crimes. While both bills received some Democratic support, the Sentencing Reform Act passed with a narrower margin. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), who sponsored the CRIMES Act, criticized the city’s current criminal justice policies, calling them “insane.”

These bills are part of a broader Republican-led initiative aimed at addressing crime and illegal immigration in the capital. President Trump has deployed the National Guard and ordered federal agencies, including the DEA and ICE, to assist with law enforcement in D.C. In 2023, a similar measure to block the District’s attempt to ease criminal penalties passed both chambers and was signed into law by President Biden.

Under the 1973 Home Rule Act, Congress retains broad authority over D.C.’s government. The additional House measures under consideration would allow police to pursue fleeing suspects in more cases and would limit the District’s role in appointing local judges — moves that have reignited debate over D.C.’s autonomy.

In the first week of federal intervention, data showed a modest decline in both violent and property crimes, while immigration-related arrests sharply increased. Federal agents have embedded with local police, carried out searches and arrests, and patrolled neighborhoods in unmarked vehicles as part of the ongoing crackdown.