Chicago’s political landscape is about to change in more ways than one. Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order preventing the Chicago Police Department from collaborating with National Guard troops or federal agents. Late last week, that National Guard deployment appeared likely. This change comes amid increasing public demand over the last year to act on crime, particularly gun violence. Underneath it all is a tension between local and federal dynamics. The Trump administration has started to make noise about a desire to crack down on crime in our largest cities, especially embarrassing hotbeds of violence like Chicago.
The city, with about 2.7 million people, has for decades contended with a brand associated with perceptions of violent crime. According to new stats, overall crime has decreased by 21 percent with Mayor Johnson at the helm. Specifically, key violent crimes including homicides decreased by a third over last year’s numbers. Despite this progress, the city witnessed a staggering 369 percent increase in violent crime, property crimes, and drug offenses from 2019 to 2023. As of June 2025, the city announced an increase in overall crime relative to 2024. The shadow of violence is never far away.
Rising Crime Rates and Public Safety
Taken together, the recent statistics tell a complex story about public safety in the City of Chicago. According to the reports, as of September 1, 2025, the city had seen 91 homicides and 218 non-fatal shootings that year. This raises important issues related to the effectiveness of local law enforcement strategies and community safety efforts. On some early indicators, there are positive signs. Adding to that complication is the recent unprecedented surge in many crime types since 2019.
Mayor Johnson’s executive order is a world away from former President Donald Trump’s “law and order” rhetoric. Recently, President Trump even proposed sending the National Guard to major cities such as Chicago as part of an effort to fight crime there. He stated, “We have no crime. You’re not going to be shot,” reflecting his administration’s stance on law enforcement and public safety.
Opponents of these kinds of legislative initiatives often warn of serious overreach. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker even made the deployment discussion public when he stated that he had still not been informed of deployment plans. He characterized these actions as an overreach by the federal government. This crisis has undoubtedly sparked new conversations around state rights and the federal government intruding on local law enforcement issues.
Federal Intervention and Local Reactions
The Trump administration’s proposal to deploy the National Guard in Chicago is part of a broader strategy targeting crime and immigration in Democratic-led cities. Over the past few months, Trump sent National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., on the heels of rising crime rates. Significant legal challenges have followed these deployments. Specifically, his decision held that the Los Angeles deployment was illegal.
Given the seriousness of these changes, local elected officials have raised the alarm. Mayor Johnson firmly stated, “We will not have our police officers, who are working hard every single day to drive down crime, deputise to do traffic stops and checkpoints for the president.” This declaration highlights the meaningful and consequential tension between local governance and the overreach of federal power.
Protests have now spread across the country as a response to the militarization of military police in civilian policing. Demonstrators contend that the deployments, if allowed to stand, will herald a terrifying new normal for American democracy. One protester articulated this sentiment by stating, “This is an active military takeover of the capital.” The implications of these actions are felt beyond the boundaries of Chicago, ringing alarm bells about a broader threat to our civil liberties.
The Path Forward for Chicago
As Chicago grapples with its identity amid crime reduction efforts and federal intervention threats, community leaders are calling for comprehensive solutions that address root causes rather than relying solely on military presence. The increase in violent crime, alongside significant recent declines, underscores the need to address deeper systemic causes that go beyond traditional policing alone.
In fact, a year later, Trump’s administration was still defending its decision to deploy National Guard troops as an emergency deployment. He asserted, “I’m announcing a historic action to rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.” Such rhetoric appeals to constituents who value safety above all else, but it calls into question the dangerous tactics used to guarantee it.
As stakeholders from various sectors engage in discussions about public safety and governance, the future trajectory of Chicago remains uncertain. How this relationship between local leadership and federal authority plays out will be key to addressing acute and chronic challenges still facing the city.
