Interior announces stricter park-enforcement policies for Washington, D.C.

An Unidentified Speaker on the Department of the Interior's Inside Interior program announced new enforcement policies intended to "keep our nation's capital city safe." The announcement said the revised policies will "allow park police officers to once again pursue fleeing criminals, enforce a no tolerance policy for homeless encampments, and ensure prosecution to the fullest extent for damage to federal property."

The department framed the changes as being issued "in line with president Donald Trump's directive to make Washington DC safe again," and said the administration is "committed to ensuring that our law enforcement officers have the tools they need to keep DC's federal lands clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone." The statement also described a "0 tolerance policy for soliciting for goods and sleeping on park grounds."

The program did not provide operational details such as which park police units will carry out the policies, specific enforcement protocols, timelines for enforcement, or any changes to guidance on civil encampment removals. The announcement did not specify whether new regulations, interagency memoranda, or legal reviews underlie the revised policies, nor did it cite statutory authorities or court orders that would affect how the policies are implemented or challenged.

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness and civil-rights groups often raise concerns about enforcement-only approaches; the statement did not include comments from outside groups or a description of services or housing alternatives tied to the enforcement actions. The department characterized the measures as measures to protect visitors and federal property.

Next steps: the department did not give a timeline or publication date for implementing the changes, and no formal rule text or guidance was linked in the announcement.