USA | Memorandum on Enforcing the Death Penalty Laws in the District of Columbia to Deter and Punish the Most Heinous Crimes

Donald Trump signs presidential memorandum implementing the death penalty in Washington, D.C.

The presidential memorandum calls for his administration to reinstate the death penalty for crimes in Washington, D.C. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the administration is working toward implementing the death penalty nationwide.

September 25, 2025

Memorandum for the Attorney General and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia

Subject: Enforcing the Death Penalty Laws in the District of Columbia to Deter and Punish the Most Heinous Crimes

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct:

Section 1. Background. Federal law provides for the death penalty for criminals found guilty of especially aggravated crimes (18 U.S.C. 3591(a)). Capital punishment is an essential part of how our justice system deters and punishes the most reprehensible crimes that often involve grotesque and lethal violence against innocent Americans.

Restoring Federal capital punishment has been a priority for my Administration since its first day under Executive Order 14164 of January 20, 2025 (Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety).

This priority warrants particular emphasis given the public safety threats in our Nation's capital, as described in Executive Order 14333 of August 11, 2025 (Declaring a Crime Emergency in the District of Columbia). My Administration has undertaken numerous successful actions to address the emergency declared and to protect public safety, as a result of which crime in the District of Columbia has fallen dramatically in recent weeks. Faithful implementation of the capital punishment laws will be part of this continuing work.

Sec. 2. Enforcing the Law Relating to Capital Punishment. (a) The Attorney General and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia shall fully enforce Federal law with respect to capital punishment in the District of Columbia by seeking the death penalty in all appropriate cases where, following full examination of the evidence and other relevant information, the applicable factors justify a sentence of death.

(b) The Attorney General and the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia shall, to the maximum degree practicable, pursue Federal jurisdiction with respect to cases involving crimes committed in the District of Columbia for which the death penalty is available under Federal law.

Sec. 3. General Provisions. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Source: presidency.ucsb.edu, Donald Trump, September 25, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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