Security forces stationed near the National Mall upheld their role in Trump's anticrime initiative.
National Guard Deployed to Washington D.C.'s National Mall
The National Guard has been called to duty in Washington D.C., with troops expected to assist federal and local law enforcement in the area around the National Mall. President Donald Trump ordered the intervention, citing an "epidemic of crime" as the reason for the deployment.
The troops' main duties will involve protecting federal landmarks such as the National Mall and Union Station, providing a safe environment to support law enforcement arrests, crowd control, and traffic control. However, it's important to note that Guard members are not authorized to make arrests except under exceptional circumstances, such as self-defense or protecting others from imminent bodily harm [1][2][4].
Initially, the troops were unarmed, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently authorized them to carry their service-issued weapons on patrol, marking an escalation in their role [1][5]. Despite this, Guard members are not functioning as a police force, having received training in de-escalation and crowd control tactics instead.
The troops' presence aims to augment overwhelmed local police resources, freeing up police officers for active crime-fighting rather than substituting police action [2][4]. As of August 22, 2025, the troops have been stationed at the footsteps of the Washington Monument.
The control of the D.C. police force by President Trump expires in 30 days. The deployment of troops on U.S. soil is legal during times of extraordinary crisis, with the president holding the power to mobilize service members [7]. After the expiration, Congress will have to weigh in.
In other parts of the country, Guard personnel have been activated to help law enforcement with administrative work [8]. Trump activated other Guard personnel in Los Angeles earlier this year to protect immigration agents conducting raids and arrests [9].
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- The deployment of National Guard troops in Washington D.C. is part of a larger international trend, as other countries grapple with similar issues of crime, politics, and general-news, often involving immigration and crime-and-justice.
- The escalation in the role of National Guard troops, allowing them to carry service-issued weapons on patrol, has garnered significant attention and debate in political circles, both domestically and internationally.
- Despite the deployment being linked to an "epidemic of crime," it's important to emphasize that U.S. politics, particularly immigration policies, have been a contentious issue, with potential implications for international relations.
