First day of Trump's tenure in D.C. marked by arrests, American troops patrolling the streets.
In early August 2025, President Trump activated and deployed over 2,000 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., aiming to address rising crime and homelessness in the city. The deployment, named the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, involves both armed and unarmed troops, including military police members, with about 900 troops actively mobilized as of August 20.
The Guard presence is evident at multiple Metro stations, such as L’Enfant Plaza, Gallery Place, and Union Station, and along the National Mall. Guard members support law enforcement but do not make arrests themselves. Instead, they assist with brief detentions until law enforcement completes the process.
Since the deployment began on August 7, 2025, a total of 465 arrests have been reported, alongside the clearing of 48 homeless encampments. The operation has been controversial, with local officials, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, opposing it and protests emerging against what demonstrators describe as a "military occupation" and federal overreach.
Trump's administration used a maximalist and somewhat untested legal approach to justify this extensive military involvement, relying on multiple legal authorizations that could set precedents for future domestic military deployments. The takeover of policing in D.C. has been controversial, with questions remaining about the duration, coordination, and legal basis of this federal intervention in a major U.S. city.
The District of Columbia's special status means the President has direct authority over the D.C. National Guard, unlike states where governors control their Guard. Trump's actions are based on a perceived crime emergency, but city officials stress that crime is already falling noticeably.
In a related development, Trump's replacement candidate for U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, was recently confirmed. The U.S. Park Police has also removed 70 homeless encampments. Notably, Trump is the first president to use Section 740 of the 1973 Home Rule Act to take over Washington's police for up to 30 days during times of emergencies.
The deployment of National Guard members is part of an uneasy partnership between police and federal officials to reduce crime in Washington, D.C. However, concerns about potential long-term impacts on civil-military relations and local autonomy over law enforcement persist.
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