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:
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MEMORANDUM FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
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.