Trump Administration Unveils Bold Security Plan for D.C., Eyes Cartels and Ukraine Peace

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an exclusive interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth outlined the Trump administration’s sweeping security plans for the nation’s capital, pledging an aggressive law-and-order agenda that includes a strong National Guard presence, support for federal and local law enforcement, and potential overseas measures against Mexican cartels.

Hegseth also addressed growing speculation about U.S. military involvement in Mexico, the administration’s approach to ending the war in Ukraine, and changes to military training aimed at toughening recruits.

National Guard Deployment to “Take Back” the Capital

The president has declared the situation in Washington, D.C., a public safety emergency, prompting the immediate deployment of National Guard units.

“This capital belongs to all Americans, and starting now, we’re taking it back,” Hegseth said. “We are going to work alongside our law enforcement partners as force multipliers. This is what the American people voted for — common sense, clarity, and strength.”

Hegseth confirmed that Guard units will begin arriving this week, with additional deployments in the coming weeks. These forces will work under Title 32 authority, which provides broad latitude for support operations but limits direct law enforcement functions. However, Hegseth emphasized they will not stand idle in the face of active crimes.

“If you take an action or a shot at them, there will be a consequence,” he warned. “We’re not going to have the National Guard sitting there, seeing a crime committed, and doing nothing.”

Addressing Concerns About Martial Law

Critics on the political left have accused the Trump administration of seeking to impose martial law in D.C. Hegseth rejected that claim, pointing to the administration’s response to unrest in Los Angeles in 2025, when 4,000 troops, including 700 Marines, helped quell violence without imposing authoritarian measures.

“The intention of this president is to establish law and order using legal and constitutional means,” Hegseth said. “Do you know why they don’t like him? He has the guts to centralize the police that don’t work, bring in the National Guard, federal marshals, and park police.”

He described the operation as “conditions-based” and could last for “weeks or months,” depending on the security situation and the president’s direction.

Cooperation With Local Officials and Homeless Encampment Issues

While noting that federal authority does not require local approval, Hegseth acknowledged that cooperation with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and community leaders could be helpful.

“She understands the citizens of D.C. are sick of this environment,” he said, predicting quiet support from residents across the political spectrum.

When asked whether the National Guard would dismantle homeless encampments, Hegseth said Guard members would assist park police, marshals, and other agencies as needed but stressed that housing policy was “not my lane.”

Confronting Mexican Drug Cartels

The conversation shifted to Mexican drug cartels, including the notorious Sinaloa organization, which Hegseth described as a national security threat responsible for poisoning Americans with fentanyl and fueling gang violence.

While refusing to confirm or deny reports that President Trump had signed a directive authorizing operations inside Mexico, Hegseth reiterated Trump’s campaign promise to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

“We spent 20 years battling foreign terrorists in other countries,” he said. “Now we have them in our own hemisphere. Where appropriate, and given the opportunity, we will take action to defend the American people.”

He declined to outline specific tactics, such as drone strikes or troop deployments, but assured that the U.S. is closely monitoring cartel movements and will act decisively when needed.

Paving the Way for Ukraine Peace Talks

Turning to foreign policy, Hegseth confirmed that President Trump will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend but will be briefed afterward.

“Nobody else could have created the conditions that lead to a meeting like this,” Hegseth said, noting that Putin had not met with a U.S. president on American soil since 2015.

Trump’s goal, he added, is to negotiate a settlement to end the war in Ukraine — a war Hegseth blamed on the weakness of the Obama and Biden administrations.

“There’s going to be concessions, maybe even land swaps,” Hegseth said. “Nobody is going to be happy, but it ends a senseless war with thousands killed every week. If anybody could do it, it’s going to be President Trump.”

He dismissed concerns about setting a dangerous precedent, framing the move as an effort to stop a war Trump “didn’t cause” but promised to resolve.

Military Training Shake-Up: The Return of “Shark Attacks”

Hegseth also revealed plans to restore “shark attacks” in basic training — intense, face-to-face drill instructor confrontations traditionally used to test recruits’ mental toughness.

“Why did we ever get rid of it?” he asked. “If you want a strong military, why do you get softer in the beginning?”

The secretary criticized past reforms that replaced such methods with stress cards and therapy animals, saying they weakened the force.

“We’re making basic training great again,” he declared. “Putting the power back in the hands of drill sergeants and company commanders to forge young men and women who can fight on behalf of all of us.”

Potential Name Change for the Defense Department

In a surprising aside, Hegseth hinted that the Department of Defense could revert to its pre-1947 name — the Department of War — as part of a broader cultural and operational shift.

“That’s up to the president of the United States,” he said. “Stay tuned. We’ll see.”

A Law-and-Order Agenda With Global Implications

The interview underscored the Trump administration’s willingness to use federal power aggressively at home and abroad. In D.C., that means mobilizing the National Guard, federal marshals, and park police to crack down on crime, support local law enforcement, and project a restored image of the nation’s capital as safe and orderly.

Internationally, the administration is signaling a readiness to confront cross-border threats, whether from Mexican cartels or in the context of ending the Ukraine conflict.

“We’re in the strength side of the peace-through-strength business,” Hegseth said. “Whether it’s in our streets or across the globe, the president has the guts to act.”