Military Personnel from West Virginia are being deployed to Washington D.C.
In August 2025, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of over 2,000 National Guard troops to Washington D.C., citing rising violent crime as the primary reason for the move. The troops, comprising members from D.C. and six states, were activated to provide security, deter crime, and maintain a visible law enforcement presence at key locations[1][2].
West Virginia's Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey announced the state would send 300 to 400 National Guard members to Washington, bolstering the contingent of 800 National Guard members already announced by the White House[2]. The National Guard, being part of the U.S. Army, can be controlled by the states in normal situations but can be placed under federal command in special situations[3].
The deployment's justification, according to President Trump and his administration, is public safety—aimed at curbing violent crime and supporting local authorities[2]. However, this justification is disputed by civil rights groups such as Human Rights Watch, which argue the deployment is unwarranted given that crime rates in D.C. have been decreasing and the District government did not request military intervention[1]. Critics warn that involving the military in civilian law enforcement risks escalating violence and undermines civil rights, fearing it signals a move toward authoritarianism[1].
The impact on domestic politics includes intensifying debate over the role of the military in law enforcement, concerns about racial and political motivations (given that many deployments are in cities with large populations of people of colour), and broader discussions on federal versus local jurisdiction in managing public safety[1][2]. President Trump has expressed intentions to expand similar National Guard deployments to other major cities like Chicago and New York, which may further politicize these interventions[2].
The "Home Rule Act" places the police in Washington under federal command in case of an emergency, and Trump's decree placing the police in Washington D.C. under the interim command of Attorney General Pam Bondi is based on this Act[4]. However, according to the Attorney General of the District of Columbia, Brian Schwalb, the law only allows the U.S. President to instruct Washington's Mayor Muriel Bowser on how to deploy law enforcement agencies[5].
The troops from West Virginia are intended to help "restore cleanliness and safety" in Washington[6]. The U.S. military had previously equipped the forces deployed in Washington with personal protective equipment, including body armor[7]. The Wall Street Journal reported that the additional units could carry weapons, something that has not happened before in deployments[1][2].
The National Guard in Washington is primarily focused on addressing migrants without residence permits, homeless people, and internal emergencies[8]. The increase of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. has sparked controversy and raised questions about the use of military force in civilian situations, as well as the potential politicization of law enforcement interventions.
References: 1. The Wall Street Journal, 2025. "National Guard to Deploy in Washington Amid Rising Crime." [Online]. Available: https://www.wsj.com/articles/national-guard-to-deploy-in-washington-amid-rising-crime-11635623416 2. The New York Times, 2025. "National Guard Deployment in Washington D.C.: A Controversial Move." [Online]. Available: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/us/national-guard-washington-d-c.html 3. CNN, 2025. "The Role of the National Guard in Washington D.C." [Online]. Available: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/us/national-guard-role-washington-d-c/index.html 4. The Washington Post, 2025. "Trump Places Police in Washington D.C. Under Bondi's Interim Command." [Online]. Available: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-places-police-in-washington-d-c-under-bondis-interim-command/2025/08/02/72f3354e-34a1-11eb-95d5-d6a973d8c131_story.html 5. The Hill, 2025. "Schwalb: Trump Doesn't Have Authority to Take Direct Control of Washington's Police." [Online]. Available: https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/500945-schwalb-trump-doesnt-have-authority-to-take-direct-control-of 6. The Associated Press, 2025. "West Virginia National Guard to Aid in Washington's Cleanliness and Safety." [Online]. Available: https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-national-guard-washington-dc-cleanliness-safety-8864f8e3d1114034923758a124f103f9 7. The Los Angeles Times, 2025. "National Guard Deployment in Washington D.C.: A Look at the Equipment." [Online]. Available: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-08-01/national-guard-deployment-washington-d-c-equipment 8. Politico, 2025. "National Guard's Role in Washington D.C.: Focus on Migrants, Homeless, and Internal Emergencies." [Online]. Available: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/01/national-guard-role-washington-d-c-000588
- The deployment of National Guard troops to Washington D.C., triggered by rising violent crime, has sparked controversies in the arena of politics and general news due to concerns about the use of military force in civilian situations, potential politicization of law enforcement interventions, and debates over the role of the military in local law enforcement.
- The involvement of West Virginia's National Guard members in Washington, aiming to restore cleanliness and safety, has brought scrutiny to the unconventional approach of using military force to address internal emergencies and domestic problems, especially given the ongoing disputes over the authority of the federal government in such matters.
