Washington, D.C
Transportation secretary pens letters to DC Mayor, WMATA, Amtrak asking for safety improvements
Sean Duffy, US secretary of transportation, during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. The Trump administration is laying off 1,300 employees at the Centers for Disease Con
WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration is urging D.C. leaders to focus on safety and security with the city’s transportation systems, saying changes are necessary to “restore greatness to our nation’s capital.”
On Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy sent letters to D.C. officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner and WMATA CEO Randy Clarke saying the District’s leaders need to focus on reducing crime, making roads safer and improving passenger security on public transportation.
“The president has called for people to return to office and it is critical we ensure workers’ safety during their daily commute,” Duffy’s said.
To WMATA
In the letter to Clarke, the transportation secretary said he wants WMATA to reduce fare evasion, lower crime on metro buses and trains, to ensure people using public transit feel safe.
READ MORE: Teens rob man of Canada Goose jacket on Metro train
There have been some violent incidents on the Metro recently. Last month, a disturbing video showed teens robbing a man of his coat on a train. Metro Transit Police have arrested the suspects but the incident has caused concern among some Metro riders, who were shocked to see the brazen theft.
To Bowser
Writing to Mayor Bowser, Duffy expressed concerns about road safety, wanting to make sure traffic signs, signals and pavement markings are used to warn or guide pedestrians and vehicles — not for other forms of expression.
This week, Bowser announced that the bold yellow “Black Lives Matter Plaza” mural near the White House will be changed, a move some believe is an attempt to appease the Trump administration amid the president’s ongoing threats to “take over” D.C.
READ MORE: Black Lives Matter Plaza to be redesigned as part of new DC mural project
Bowser’s announcement also came after Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced H.R. 1774, a bill that seeks to remove the “Black Lives Matter” phrase from the plaza. If passed, the bill would withhold federal funding from D.C. unless the mayor removes it and redesignates the area as “Liberty Plaza.”
To Amtrak
In a separate letter to Amtrak’s CEO Stephen Gardner, Duffy is called on Amtrak to prevent crime and improve its management of Union Station.
About three weeks ago, Police Chief Pamela Smith told FOX 5 that a fatal shooting happened in the “Union Station parking garage, in the back of Union Station” during the busy evening commute.
Responses
WMATA responded to the letter, thanking Duffy and adding that the general manager is looking forward to working with its federal partner to make Metro safer. The general manager admits there is still work to do.
FOX 5 asked the mayor’s office for a response to Duffy’s letter. A spokesperson said Bowser does not have a comment at this time.
We are awaiting a response from Amtrak.
READ ALL OF THE LETTER FROM SECRETARY DUFFY BELOW
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A Texas man accused of shooting at a United States Secret Service agent near the Washington Monument earlier this month has been indicted on federal charges, the Justice Department announced Friday.
A federal grand jury indicted 45-year-old Michael Marx with “assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon” and “using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence,” in connection with the May 4 incident, in which a stray bullet struck a teenage bystander.
“Today’s indictment reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions on one of the most heavily visited public spaces in the nation,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Friday, in part. “The evidence shows Marx not only carried an illegal firearm into DC, but he fired it at uniformed officers, wounding an innocent teenage bystander who was simply visiting the National Mall with his family on a spring afternoon.”
Authorities previously charged Marx with assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, an undercover Secret Service agent initially noticed Marx trying to conceal a gun on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW shortly after 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of the shooting.
At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was leaving the White House, passing through the area just up the street.
Uniformed Secret Service officers arrived to provide backup, finding Marx along the path of Vance’s motorcade. The attorney’s office said officers began to give the Texas man verbal commands, but he started running through a crosswalk and eventually fired at one of the agents as he reached the sidewalk.
The bullet struck the teenage bystander, who was walking behind the agent, in the leg, according to the DOJ.
Agents quickly returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper body, according to court documents.
Court documents state that agents used Marx’s Texas driver’s license, which he was carrying, to identify him as the gunman. Investigators also identified various aliases Marx allegedly went by, including Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici.
While in the hospital, he allegedly made statements to officers, including ”F— the White House,” and “kill me, kill me, kill me,” the DOJ noted in a release.
Police found a Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition from the street where Marx fell.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Abundant sunshine
- Temps slightly cooler than average
- No rain in sight — again
- Mid-week warmup
May is drawing to a dry, comfortable close, in stunning contrast to the very soggy Memorial Day weather we saw last weekend.
That 10-day stretch of rain put a definite dent in our drought, according to the weekly national drought monitor, but it seems that was the end of the improvement for a while: There’s almost no clouds in sight for the DMV for several days.
Enjoy the many hours of sunshine on Saturday. The high pressure coming in from the Hudson Bay brings a stiff north wind, but the day will also be sunny and comfortable, with highs in the mid 70s.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
The wind will die down after dark, and Sunday morning will be bordering on chilly. Expect widespread mid/upper 40s in most of the D.C. area, with urban centers and bayside communities staying just above 50°. Sunday afternoon will be just a bit warmer, in the mid 70s, but with far less of a breeze.
Highs will be back around 80° for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with overnight lows in the comfy 50s. It’ll be a perfect start to meteorological summer (June/July/August).
QuickCast
TODAY:
Sunshine Abounds, Breezy
Wind: North 10-15mph, Gust to 25 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 70° to 75°
TONIGHT:
Clear Skies
Winds Diminish
Wind: Northwest 10-15 mph
Chance Of Rain: 0%
LOWS: 46° to 54°
SUNDAY:
Mostly Sunny Skies
Pleasant Conditions
Light Breeze
Wind: NW 5 – 10 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 70° to 76°
MONDAY:
Partly Cloudy
Seasonable
Light Breeze
Wind: West/Northwest 10 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 76° to 82°
Sunrise: 5:45 Sunset: 8:26
Average High: 80° Average Low: 63°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
WASHINGTON – A man is in critical condition after falling into the Anacostia River in Southwestern Washington, D.C., Friday night.
What we know:
D.C. Fire and EMS reported the rescue effort shortly after 10 p.m. at James Creek Marina in Buzzard Point.
Crews believe a man fell from the dock into the water.
By 10:30 p.m., crews were able to pull the man out of the water.
Paramedics took him to the hospital in critical condition.
What we don’t know:
Officials did not identify the man who was rescued. No other information was immediately available.
The Source: Information in this story is from the D.C. Fire and EMS Department.
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