Pentagon confirms dispatch of 800 National Guard members for DC operation
Federal Intervention and National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C. (2023-2024)
In mid-2025, President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., marking a significant escalation in federal law enforcement efforts aimed at addressing crime and homelessness in the city [1][3]. The deployment, which included troops from multiple states such as Mississippi, was the first time since 1965 that a US president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a state governor [4].
The federal takeover and National Guard deployment were initiated to bolster public safety resources amid rising crime, particularly carjackings, which peaked in summer 2023 [5]. However, official Department of Justice data indicated that violent crime hit a 30-year low in 2024, and overall homelessness declined by 9% in the city the same year [2].
Under the executive powers granted by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, the head of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration held the equivalent authority of Washington's police chief, effectively federalizing the city's law enforcement [3]. This move codified the federal takeover of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.
The National Guard's initial mission was to provide a visible presence in key public areas, serving as a visible crime deterrent [5]. They were tasked with assisting the DC Metropolitan Police Department, federal law enforcement partners, and helping with monument security, community safety patrols, protecting federal facilities, and traffic control posts.
It is important to note that the National Guard forces, unlike those at the state level, answer directly to the US president in Washington, D.C. [4]. The troops were not authorised to arrest, search, or direct law enforcement but had the authority to temporarily detain individuals to prevent imminent harm.
The deployment of troops in Washington raised questions about the militarization of civilian policing and the appropriate use of the National Guard in domestic law enforcement [4]. Washington's Democratic mayor, Muriel Bowser, stated that there is no statute conveying District personnel authority to a federal official in response to Bondi's order [5].
The Pentagon confirmed that all 800 National Guard troops had been mobilized to aid law enforcement in Washington, D.C. [2]. The troops were equipped with protective gear, and weapons were available if needed but remained in the armory [6]. The deployment followed Trump's previous actions, such as dispatching the National Guard and Marines to quell unrest in Los Angeles, California, spurred by immigration enforcement raids [7].
The deployment of National Guard troops in Washington followed a similar move during protests in Los Angeles in June [8]. Washington faces allegations from Republican politicians that it is overrun by crime, plagued by homelessness, and financially mismanaged [9]. However, the troops were not expected to stay in Washington, D.C. indefinitely, with Trump stating they would remain until law and order had been restored, as determined by the president [10].
Despite the controversy surrounding the deployment, the National Guard's involvement also supported enforcement against homeless encampments, offering treatment or shelter but applying fines or jail time for noncompliance, marking an increasingly aggressive approach to homelessness [2]. The deployment's impact on crime and homelessness remains a topic of ongoing debate, with some reporting reductions in crime categories, while others suggest improvements prior to and during the intervention [2][5].
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