Federal forces, specifically 800 National Guardsmen, are being dispatched to Washington D.C. under Trump's orders.
In a move that has sparked legal challenges and controversy, President Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. The deployment, which came with the potential for more forces to be mobilized, was initiated under the direction of Attorney General Pam Bondi.
The National Guard, a military reserve unit and part of the US Armed Forces, can be called upon in times of natural disasters, riots, and internal emergencies. The deployment in Washington, D.C., according to the White House, is aimed at maintaining law and order.
However, the legality and proportionality of this deployment have been questioned. Washington, D.C. officials have filed a lawsuit, arguing that the Trump administration's declaration of a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) oversteps the temporary, limited authority granted under law, specifically violating the District’s Home Rule Act.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also criticized the deployment, describing it as a "brazen abuse of power" that unnecessarily escalates federal control and poses risks to constitutional rights. They emphasize that the administration is using a manufactured emergency to justify an excessive federal presence that infringes on D.C.'s autonomy and residents' rights.
Following a federal court hearing, some of the most aggressive moves, such as removing the D.C. police commissioner, were rescinded due to legal pushback. The case remains contested in courts, reflecting concerns about federal overreach and constitutional protections.
The deployment in Washington, D.C., comes after Trump's previous deployment of the National Guard in the Los Angeles area, totaling 4,000 soldiers and 700 regular military personnel, in June. This deployment was in response to massive protests against the security forces of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Locally, there have been significant decreases in reported crimes in Washington, D.C., according to police statistics. The District of Columbia prosecutor described 2024 as the year with the lowest level of violent crimes in 30 years, and local police report a decrease in both violent and total crimes.
Despite these statistics, Trump has been railing against homeless and criminal elements in Washington, D.C. and has threatened to remove homeless people from the capital. He has posted photos of tents and street debris on his Truth Social platform, expressing a desire to provide accommodations for homeless people "far away from the capital."
Trump has also stated his intention to potentially deploy the National Guard in Chicago, citing it as a city in disarray. He has stated that criminals should be sent to prison and that he wants Washington, D.C. to be safer and more beautiful than ever.
The proportionality of the deployment in Los Angeles is also being challenged in court. The US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Brian Schwalb, has expressed that the government's actions are unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful.
[1] District of Columbia v. Trump, No. 21-cv-00846 (D.D.C. filed Mar. 29, 2021). [2] ACLU of D.C. v. Trump, No. 21-cv-00845 (D.D.C. filed Mar. 29, 2021).
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