Congress is investigating Washington, D.C., police crime data following allegations that the numbers were manipulated. CBS News' Jake Rosen has more details.

Washington

Members of Congress are investigating claims that crime data in Washington, D.C. was manipulated, following a whistleblower's report to the House Oversight Committee. This scrutiny comes as President Trump has cited alleged decreases in crime statistics to justify increased federal intervention in D.C., including the temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Force and the deployment of National Guard troops.

The federal government currently holds unique authority over D.C.'s National Guard and police force, unlike other U.S. cities. While official data shows a significant drop in crime rates since the federal intervention, some officials and critics argue the moves may be politically motivated. Plans are also being developed for specialized National Guard units to respond rapidly to urban unrest, raising concerns among local leaders about federal overreach.

Congress probing D.C. police crime data after manipulation allegations

Members of Congress are investigating D.C.'s crime data. The House Oversight Committee claims a whistleblower informed them that the statistics were manipulated. Now, you know, President Trump has repeatedly referred to what he claims are fake decrease in crime stats to justify his federal takeover of D.C. Illinois governor, well, Illinois' governor argues that Chicago's crime has also plummeted in the past year. As the president says, the National Guard could be headed there next. We go in, we will solve Chicago within one week, maybe less, but within one week, we will have no crime in Chicago. This is not about fighting crime. This is about Donald Trump searching for any justification to deploy the military in a blue city, in a blue state, to try and intimidate his political rivals. All right, CBS News Department of Justice reporter, Jake Rosen, is tracking the latest on this and joins us once again. Good morning, Jake. Explain why the president doesn't believe D.C. or Chicago's decrease in crime numbers and also help us understand what powers he has to deploy troops to Chicago. Well, D.C. is unique, Errol, than every other city that is warning that potentially President Trump could send the National Guard there because the mayor here does not have control over the National Guard deployment. That's fully up to President Trump. In addition to that, there's congressional legislation that was passed and signed that allows the president to temporarily take over the Metropolitan Police Force. They did that on August 11th. It'll be in place for another week and a half or so. That gives the president a specific advantage in the district to be able to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department here and move the local police alongside federal law enforcement like the FBI, Homeland Security, in addition to the National Guard to kind of put them throughout the city and do everything from immigration arrests to simply just police the streets. In Chicago, it would be obviously subject to legal challenge. We've seen mayors throughout the country. In Baltimore, Chicago already warned of that. However, if you think back to a couple of months ago, the Los Angeles, after California sued, the protests in Los Angeles were sparked. President Trump put the National Guard there, and upon appeal, he won. And we've seen, according to at least our CBS News crime data, that at least this D.C. federal takeover is working if you compare year-over-year data for the last five years to this year, Errol, crime is down about 50%. Violent crime is down about 50%. Obviously, crime is still happening, contrary to what President Trump has been saying. However, there are simply more law enforcement here to stop it and deter it. Think about those National Guard troops walking along the streets. Simply, if you were going to commit a crime, you might not do that now if your block now has somebody patrolling it constantly. Right, and that fresh new CBS News analysis of D.C. crime rate data will be available on cbsnews.com. Viewers should certainly check that out. And Jake, one of the President's executive orders yesterday allows the administration to create what are effectively National Guard units, including a rapid response force. What is the plan for that exactly? Well, details are a little vague at the moment. We saw President Trump tease earlier this week, Errol, that potentially there would be kind of an East Coast and a West Coast center where National Guard from all over the country would go learn how to kind of handle domestic confrontation in cities and work on potentially de-escalation tactics or counter-protest tactics, right? What appears like might happen now is that President Trump has directed the Pentagon to start working on plans for the National Guard to potentially select units from every state to then be used so that President Trump can deploy a specific amount of National Guards, men and women, into cities who have already been trained. Because there is a little bit of a lag here, and we've noticed this here in D.C., as when the Guardsmen have been deployed, they still have to go to a base near the area, train up, work on de-escalation tactics. These troops are not trained necessarily for civil unrest, and that is something that President Trump has sought to quell. That is really at the center of the issue here. As you saw J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois governor, tease that he is worried that this is more of about a federal power grab of policing and intruding in the rights of these cities and states than it is actually making people safe. That's right, a lot of National Guard folks are reservists and have day jobs and aren't always standing at the ready. Very interesting plan there. Jake Rosen, great to chat with you.

Protesters demanding an end to the Gaza war and the return of hostages to their homes took to the streets in Israel on Tuesday ahead of a security cabinet meeting scheduled for the evening.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Middle East Conflict

Israeli protesters demand hostage deal as cabinet set to meet

Australia accused Iran on Tuesday (August 26) of executing two antisemitic arson attacks in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne and gave Tehran's ambassador seven days to leave the country, its first such expulsion since World War Two.

Council of the City of Sydney

Australia expels Iranian envoy over antisemitic attacks

President Donald Trump announced the removal of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the only Black woman to serve on the board. Critics call it an attack on the Fed's independence, while Cook says no legal cause exists for her firing.

Trump says he fired Lisa Cook from Federal Reserve board

U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating new National Guard units, including a rapid-response force to handle what the administration calls civil disturbances.

White House authorizes creation of rapid-response National Guard units

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI sued Apple and ChatGPT maker OpenAI in U.S. federal court in Texas, accusing them of illegally conspiring to thwart competition for artificial intelligence.

Texas

Rise of AI

Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple, OpenAI over competition claims

Strikes on the Nasser hospital in Gaza that left at least 20 people dead, including rescuers, journalists and health-care workers are being met with global outrage. The Israeli military is investigating what Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netnayahu called a ‘tragic mishap.’

Israeli PM calls deadly strikes on Gaza hospital a ‘tragic mishap’

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is back in ICE custody and is facing deportation to Uganda, the Department of Homeland Security says, after he was released from criminal custody last week.

Baltimore

Abrego Garcia in ICE custody, court blocks immediate deportation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he will meet with the U.S. and other countries this week to discuss a potential meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at reaching a ceasefire.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskiy say he will meet with U.S., others on potential Putin talks

U.S. President Donald Trump says Chicago could be the next city to see National Guard deployment, sparking strong opposition from Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker, who argue crime is already falling and federal intervention is unnecessary.

Chicago

Trump threatens to send National Guard troops to Chicago

Four journalists working with Reuters, Al Jazeera and others were killed in explosions at a Gaza hospital. Gaza officials blame Israeli drone strikes, though CBS News has not independently verified the claims.

Jerusalem

Four journalists reported dead after Gaza hospital blasts

U.S. National Guard troops patrolling the streets of Washington D.C. as part of what President Donald Trump said was his crackdown on crime began carrying weapons on Sunday night, two officials said.

National Guard patrolling Washington DC begin carrying weapons

In a visit to Kyiv, Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed Canada’s support for Ukraine and committed to sending soldiers if a ceasefire with Russia is reached.

Carney in Kyiv pledges support, possibly troops for Ukraine

The Pickett Fire is growing in California's Napa County, prompting new evacuations as it threatens homes and wineries. The flames, fueled by scorching temperatures and dry conditions, are being battled by hundreds of first responders.

Napa Valley

Evacuations ordered in California as heatwave fuels wildfire

Democrats are pushing back against President Trump's plan to send the National Guard to more cities, including Chicago, New York and Baltimore, as troops continue to patrol Washington, D.C. State and local leaders say they have crime under control.

Democrats slam Trump's plans to send National Guard to more cities

Beef prices are at record highs with the average price of a pound of ground beef topping $6. Lisa Rozner reports on what's causing prices to soar.

Why U.S beef prices are soaring

A defiant Ukraine marked its independence from the former Soviet Union Sunday amid more fighting with Russia. Chris Livesay reports on how world leaders joined in, voicing their support.

Ukraine marks its Independence Day as war with Russia continues

The boats are produced by unknown Turkish companies and are then sent disassembled in multiple shipments to avoid suspicion in what authorities say is for the sole purpose of trafficking migrants across the English Channel.

Sofia

Inflatable boats used for migrant trafficking seized

Less than 24 hours after he was released from jail, Kilmar Ábrego García was told that U.S. immigration officials plan to deport him to Uganda. The Salvadoran national, who has been living illegally in the U.S. since about 2011, was wrongly deported to his home country earlier this year.

Maryland

Kilmar Abrego Garcia told he may be sent to Uganda

Erik and Lyle Menendez remain behind bars, their hopes for release dashed by two separate parole boards more than three decades after murdering their parents. Elise Preston reports.

Los Angeles

Erik and Lyle Menendez denied parole

Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, costing the city billions. That could signal trouble ahead for the U.S. economy. Andres Gutierrez has new details.

Las Vegas

Las Vegas tourism slumps this summer, signaling trouble for U.S. economy

Texas Republicans took a victory lap after an early morning vote Saturday that sought to give their party an edge during the 2026 midterms. Democrats in Texas plan to challenge the legality of the new congressional map, saying it dilutes the power of minorities.

Austin

Texas Republicans take victory lap after redistricting vote

Israel has called the United Nations' declaration of famine in parts of Gaza an "outright lie," but multiple U.N. bodies, more than 100 humanitarian groups, and several of Israel's own allies have warned for months that the war is causing starvation among civilians.

Israel denies U.N.'s declaration of famine in parts of Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump says he will impose sanctions on Russia if it fails to reach a peace deal in Ukraine within two weeks. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia’s ongoing attacks on his country show that President Vladimir Putin is not interested in peace.

Putin’s not interested in peace talks, Zelenskyy says

Lyle Menendez was denied parole late Friday night following a day-long hearing in California, just one day after his brother Erik's parole appeal was also rejected. The brothers have been in prison since 1996 for killing their parents in what they say was an act of self-defense.

Both Menendez brothers denied parole

At least five people are dead and dozens are injured after a tour bus traveling from Niagara Falls flipped over on the New York State Thruway near Pembroke, New York.

Pembroke

Western New York bus crash kills at least five people

Federal agents searched former Trump adviser-turned-critic John Bolton's home on Friday morning. President Donald Trump denied knowing about the investigation, which is related to his handling of classified documents.

Bethesda

FBI raids former Trump adviser John Bolton's home, office

The FBI searched former national security adviser John Bolton's house in Bethesda, Maryland, early Friday morning, the bureau confirmed to CBS News.

FBI raids former Trump adviser John Bolton's home, D.C. office

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland construction worker deported to El Salvador and then returned to the U.S. on smuggling charges, has been released from prison in Tennessee, his attorneys say.

Breakdown