Trump sends National Guard to combat crime in Washington D.C.
In a bold move to address perceived issues of crime and security, U.S. President Donald Trump has deployed over 2,000 National Guard members and hundreds of federal agents to Washington, D.C. The operation aims to support the D.C. Metropolitan Police in reducing crime, securing monuments, and addressing community safety.
The deployment, which includes the D.C. National Guard operating under federal authority due to the district’s unique legal status, also involves troops from states like West Virginia, South Carolina, and others under Title 32 status. This means they remain under state authority but are federally funded. The troop activation has been involuntary for these states’ Guards, based on availability without affecting immediate disaster response forces.
The Trump administration's approach is based on a complex and aggressive legal framework, relying on several statutes and doctrines such as 32 U.S.C. 12406 and the protective power of the federal government over D.C. This maximalist legal strategy might serve as a precedent for wider military and federal enforcement deployments in other cities, though it faces potential legal challenges.
Trump's plan extends beyond crime control, with plans to address homelessness and potentially expand federal deployments to other major cities like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Oakland. However, details regarding these expansions and operational scopes remain unclear.
Trump's order includes agents from the FBI, ATF, DEA, Park Police, the US Marshals Service, the Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. The President has also signed an order to make it easier to arrest homeless people in Washington, D.C., promising to provide places for homeless individuals, but outside of the Capital.
Despite claims of rampant crime in Washington, D.C., official data shows a 30-year low in crime rates. A Gallup poll in October found that 64 percent of Americans believe crime has risen in 2024, but FBI data shows the lowest levels of violent crime nationwide in more than half a century.
Trump's new approach mirrors his immigration policies, including sealing the southern border and deploying active-duty troops. The President has made arrests a priority in Washington, D.C., following a surge of federal agents. He has also expressed dissatisfaction with local police and prosecutors in Washington, D.C., threatening a federal takeover of the city, stating that crime in the city is "totally out of control."
However, violent offenses in Washington, D.C., have decreased. Trump's threats have been met with criticism from some quarters, with Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser planning to focus on shared priorities with Trump rather than engaging in public criticisms.
References:
[1] ABC News. (2025, August 1). Trump deploys National Guard, federal agents to Washington, D.C. [online] Available at: https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-deploys-national-guard-federal-agents-washington-d-c/story?id=82962988
[2] The Washington Post. (2025, August 2). Trump's deployment of troops to D.C. raises legal questions. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/02/trumps-deployment-troops-dc-raises-legal-questions/
[3] CNN. (2025, August 3). Trump plans to expand federal deployments to other cities, address homelessness. [online] Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/03/politics/trump-expands-federal-deployments-cities-homelessness/index.html
- The deployment of National Guard members and federal agents in Washington, D.C., under Title 32 status, could set a precedent for wider military and federal enforcement deployments in other cities, as suggested by the Trump administration's plan to potentially expand federal deployments to cities like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Oakland.
- As part of a broader policy on crime and justice, the Trump administration's approach to addressing issues in Washington, D.C., involves not only the deployment of troops but also agents from various federal law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, ATF, DEA, Park Police, the US Marshals Service, the Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security, and a signed order to make it easier to arrest homeless people in the Capital.
