In a move underscoring mounting tensions over federal intervention in local law enforcement, three Republican-led states announced they will send hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., at the request of President Donald Trump.
The deployments come amid the administration’s claims of rising crime in the nation’s capital, an assertion that contradicts federal crime statistics showing violence at its lowest point in three decades.
Governors from West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio revealed plans on Saturday to dispatch troops to the capital, days after Trump announced he was temporarily seizing control of D.C.’s police department and bolstering patrols with the D.C. National Guard.
The federal takeover immediately sparked a political firestorm, prompting a lawsuit by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who argued the move violated the city’s right to self-governance.
State Leaders Step In
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said between 300 and 400 of his state’s National Guard members would be mobilized, bringing with them additional equipment and specialized training. “This is a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation,” Morrisey’s office stated.South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster also confirmed that 200 of his state’s Guard troops would head to Washington following a Pentagon request. Meanwhile, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine pledged 150 military police members, clarifying that none currently serve as law enforcement officers in Ohio to avoid depleting local resources.
The coordinated deployment, stretching across hundreds of miles, marks one of the largest Republican-backed troop mobilizations in support of Trump’s controversial effort to extend federal authority over local policing.
Pushback from D.C. Leaders
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, denounced the decision in sharp terms. In a message posted on X, she wrote: “American soldiers and airmen policing American citizens on American soil is #UnAmerican.”The criticism reflects long-standing frustrations among D.C. officials over the city’s lack of statehood and its unique status as a federal district under congressional oversight. Unlike state governors, the mayor has no control over the D.C. National Guard, which reports directly to the president.
A Clash Over Crime Narratives
Trump has framed the action as necessary to address what he calls a crime and homelessness crisis in the capital. “We must restore safety to Washington,” he said earlier this week. But statistics from the Justice Department tell a different story: violent crime in D.C. during 2024 fell to its lowest level in 30 years.That contrast has fueled accusations that Trump is inflating security concerns to justify expanding presidential power. The president has previously suggested he could take similar measures in other Democratic-run cities, further raising alarms among critics who see the deployments as a precedent for federal overreach.
Troops Already on Patrol
According to the White House, members of the D.C. National Guard have begun patrolling near landmarks such as the National Mall and Union Station. Officials said the Guard is not making arrests but acknowledged that a forthcoming order could authorize military police to carry firearms.One U.S. official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that weapons would be accessible, with most troops keeping sidearms or storing firearms in vehicles. The visible military presence, the White House argued, is intended to deter crime and safeguard federal property.
National Guard’s Unusual Role
Traditionally, the National Guard responds to natural disasters and emergencies, not routine policing of civilians. The decision to expand its role into city streets has raised constitutional questions, especially following Trump’s June order sending 4,700 military personnel, including Marines, to Los Angeles during protests over federal immigration raids. That deployment was carried out against the objections of California’s Democratic governor and is now facing legal scrutiny in federal court.South Carolina’s McMaster noted that his state’s Guard would be recalled immediately if needed at home, particularly with Hurricane Erin, now a catastrophic Category 5 storm, approaching the East Coast.
What Comes Next
While the administration has defended the mobilization as a safety measure, critics warn it represents a dramatic shift in how federal power is used to control local policing. The outcome of the legal challenge in California could determine how far Trump can extend such authority in other cities.For now, hundreds of troops are preparing to descend on Washington, setting up a high-stakes clash between the president and local leaders over who gets to define public safety, and who controls the capital’s streets.