President Trump announced that his administration will seek the death penalty for homicides in Washington, D.C., describing the move as a response to a “crime epidemic,” even though violent crime in the city has declined in recent years.

Trump has recently asserted control over D.C.’s police force and deployed the National Guard, emphasizing that capital punishment would serve as a strong deterrent.

However, the death penalty in D.C. was nullified by the Supreme Court in 1972, repealed by the D.C. Council in 1981, and overwhelmingly rejected by voters in a 1992 referendum, Axios has reported.

Critics note that his plan conflicts with local law and public opinion, highlighting a significant legal and political clash between the federal government and the district.