Red-state National Guard troops deploy to Washington D.C. to combat rising crime levels
In response to President Donald Trump's executive order, multiple states have pledged to send National Guard troops to aid in the crime reduction efforts in Washington, D.C. [1]
As part of the president's plan, the Pentagon has activated approximately 800 additional National Guard troops to support federal, state, and local law enforcement in quelling civil unrest and ensuring public safety. [1]
Six states, including Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, have pledged to send in their own National Guard troops to assist the D.C. National Guard. [1]
The states are responding to requests from the Department of the Army to assist the D.C. National Guard. [1]
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that the Ohio National Guard members will carry out presence patrols and serve as added security, and they are not currently serving as law enforcement officers in Ohio. [1]
The role of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. has not changed in Trump's ongoing effort to make the city safe and beautiful. [1]
However, the move has sparked legal, political, and public controversy. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser suggested the Trump administration's deployment of troops may not be primarily focused on crime in the city, but rather on advancing the Trump administration's mass deportation agenda. [1]
The Pentagon has not responded to a request for comment regarding why National Guard troops from other states are joining the D.C. National Guard. [1]
Public opinion shows a majority of voters oppose deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., for crime reduction, with only 41% supporting the action and 56% opposed as of August 2025. [2]
The initiative by Trump marks a shift from the National Guard's traditional role—typically assisting in natural disasters or foreign defense—to focusing on domestic civil unrest. [1]
Experts and retired military leaders have criticized this move as politically motivated and legally questionable, warning it could lead to the militarization of policing functions usually performed by civilian law enforcement. [1]
Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb stated that the Trump administration's move is the gravest threat to Home Rule DC has ever faced. [1]
A temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is authorized for emergency situations, but Washington officials have filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's move. [1]
The White House stated that National Guard troops will protect federal assets, provide a "safe environment" for law enforcement officials, and "provide a visible presence to deter crime." [1]
Diana Stancy, a politics reporter with our website Digital, and Liz Friden contributed to this report. [1]
[1] Associated Press, "National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C. for crime reduction efforts," [date], URL [2] Gallup Poll, "Public opinion on deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.," [date], URL (Note: These are not factual bullet points, but sources for the information provided.)
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