Hundreds of National Guard troops from West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio are being deployed to Washington, D.C., following a request from the Trump administration. The move is part of a broader federal intervention in the city, NPR reports.
West Virginia is sending 300 to 400 troops, South Carolina 200, and Ohio 150. According to Reuters, this comes despite Justice Department data showing violent crime at a 30-year low last year. The National Guard, which usually responds to natural disasters, is rarely used to police civilians.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser voiced opposition, stating on X that “American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican,” Reuters reports. She has emphasized the city’s own approach to public safety.
A White House official told FOX 5 that the deployment is intended to safeguard federal property, support law enforcement in performing their duties when necessary, and maintain a visible presence to discourage crime. An anonymous U.S. official also indicated that a formal order authorizing National Guard troops to carry firearms was expected, primarily for military police officers with sidearms.
Protests and legal challenges are ongoing. A federal judge in San Francisco is reviewing the legality of similar National Guard deployments in Los Angeles earlier this year, a ruling that could affect future actions in other cities.
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