National Guard to DC deployed

Washington residents protest as Trump expands deployment of troops amid a public safety claim.

Three Republican-led states to send National Guard troops to DC

Three Republican-led states will send members of their National Guard to Washington, DC to join the roughly 800 troops President Donald Trump has already deployed to the city. West Virginia will send 300 to 400 troops, South Carolina 200, and Ohio 150 military police from its National Guard, according to their governors. Federal agents have spent the week patrolling popular areas alongside the Guard as the administration frames the move as a response to security concerns.

Washington, DC officials have pushed back against Trump’s portrayal of the city as beset by crime. Mayor Muriel Bowser has rejected the claim of widespread lawlessness, noting a spike in crime in 2023 that has since declined. Metropolitan Police Department data show homicides fell 32 percent from 2023 to 2024, the lowest level since 2019, and preliminary data indicate violent crime, including robbery, is down this year compared with 2024.

The deployment highlights a tense clash over who bears responsibility for public safety in the capital. Governors emphasize burden sharing and show of support for a national request, while local leaders stress that crime trends do not justify a prolonged federal presence. The move also raises questions about the usefulness and optics of military support in civilian spaces, even as crime statistics trend downward. The legal tug of war over control of the city’s police, rooted in historical power dynamics between federal and local authorities, adds another layer to the controversy.

Highlights

The coming weeks will reveal whether more troops are a solution or a symbol in a city seeking balance between safety and local governance.