President Donald Trump said Tuesday his administration will pursue the death penalty in homicide cases committed in Washington, DC. Speaking during his seventh cabinet meeting, Trump described the move as part of a broader effort to confront what he has repeatedly called a “crime epidemic” in the capital.

“If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington, DC, we’re going to be seeking the death penalty,” Trump said. “And that’s a very strong preventative.” He added, “I don’t know if we’re ready for it in this country, but we have no choice.”

The president’s latest move follows earlier actions this month, when he assumed control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deployed National Guard units throughout the city. Trump has argued that such measures are necessary to restore order in the city, which faces higher crime on average compared to most places in the US.

In December, Trump pledged that his Justice Department would “vigorously pursue the death penalty.” During his first administration, federal executions reached levels not seen in decades.

Capital punishment remains legal in 27 states, along with the federal government and the US military, according to Cornell’s Legal Information Institute. But Washington, DC has not had the death penalty for decades. The Supreme Court invalidated the district’s death penalty statute in 1972, and the DC Council formally repealed it in 1981, per Axios. 

Congress ordered a referendum in 1992 to test public opinion, and residents voted two-to-one against reinstating the punishment. 

Local officials have long opposed capital punishment, citing concerns about wrongful convictions, fairness in sentencing, and the district’s strong opposition reflected in past votes. Trump has said the measure is essential to public safety. “We have no choice,” Trump said Tuesday.