Lawmaker: "D.C. Looks Like a Third World Hellhole"
Rep. Brandon Gill slams conditions in the nation’s capital, calling for stronger federal oversight as violence escalates near government centers
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The state of the U.S. capital is drawing harsh criticism from lawmakers, with one Republican representative describing parts of Washington, D.C., as unsafe and severely deteriorated.
Speaking with the immigration-focused outlet Border Hawk, Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) expressed alarm over the conditions just outside the heart of America’s federal government.
"America stands as the most powerful and prosperous nation on Earth," Gill said. "Yet, when you step only a few blocks from the Capitol, it feels like you’ve entered a dangerous and neglected zone, something you’d expect in a Third World country."
Gill highlighted the irony of lawmakers, federal staff, and administration officials living and working in areas plagued by crime and disorder.
“This is the city where members of Congress and their families live, where our government functions. It’s completely unacceptable that our law enforcement resources aren’t sufficient to secure the capital,” he asserted.
The congressman called for a much firmer approach from federal authorities in managing the capital, saying, “It’s time for Congress to take its oversight role over D.C. far more seriously.”
His sentiments are in line with those recently expressed by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), who similarly described D.C. as an increasingly unsafe environment.
The concerns were further underscored by a tragic incident that took place just days ago, when 21-year-old congressional intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was killed in a shooting near the White House.
According to reports, gunmen opened fire in a crowded area, targeting another group, but fatally struck the intern.
The spike in crime and visible disorder prompted action from President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order on March 28 titled “Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful.”
The order outlines a federal commitment to reducing crime, protecting monuments, restoring public order, and enhancing the capital’s aesthetic and historic character.
In a recent Cabinet meeting, Trump hinted at potentially placing D.C. under more direct federal control.
“We're considering federal management of the city,” Trump said. “We want a capital that operates flawlessly.”