Several states led by Republican governors are sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., as part of what President Donald Trump has referred to as a ‘crime emergency’ in the capital.
This deployment has sparked a debate about the potential politicization of the National Guard, raising concerns among lawmakers and military officials alike.
Major Gen. Randy E. Manner, a former acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, expressed his worries about this development during an interview with NPR.
Manner criticized the deployment as an inappropriate use of National Guard resources, arguing that it undermines their primary mission and could deter future recruits.
‘Military vehicles in front of public buildings and the idea of them constantly there with weapons, that is absolutely called intimidation,’ Manner stated.
He noted that utilizing young soldiers and airmen as political props is detrimental to their perception in communities, especially among people of color.
Despite legal challenges and public protests regarding the deployment, President Trump has continuously pushed for extended federal control over D.C., despite evidence from the Justice Department indicating that violent crime in the city reached a 30-year low last year.
In recent days, Republican governors from states such as West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, and Tennessee have sent National Guard troops to D.C., echoing Trump’s narrative on crime.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, for instance, stated that his state’s troops were deployed to support President Trump in his mission to ‘restore law and order.’
Conversely, Vermont’s Republican Governor Phil Scott has explicitly rejected sending troops to D.C., maintaining that such deployment would not be an acceptable or appropriate use of the National Guard.
Similarly, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, has urged state leaders to steer clear of what she termed a ‘dangerous, politically motivated agenda.’
Manner highlighted several troubling aspects of deploying National Guard troops to the capital.
He pointed out that the National Guard is not trained for policing actions, which are better suited for local law enforcement agencies like the Metropolitan Police.
This mismatch in training raises concerns about the effectiveness and appropriateness of deploying armed troops within urban settings.
Moreover, Manner emphasized that using National Guardsmen in D.C. is detrimental to military readiness, as their deployment detracts from the primary mission of preparing for emergency responses, including war and natural disasters.
‘Our young soldiers and airmen are political props,’ Manner noted sadly, stressing that many will earn more in their civilian jobs than they do while deployed.
Those operational requirements reflect the historical function of the National Guard as a critical strategic reserve for active-duty forces, especially needed for international missions and disaster relief back home.
Manner, a member of the bipartisan National Security Leaders for America, stated the National Guard is currently operating at a near-breaking point, stressing that active-duty troops are stretched thin.
The National Guard’s engagements globally for vital missions underscore their importance to national security.
This expanded role for the National Guard in D.C. also alters public perceptions of the military, reminiscent of instances following the September 11 attacks when troops were dispatched to airports to reassure the flying public.
In contrast, Manner argued, having military personnel on city streets is more characteristic of authoritarian regimes than democratic societies.
When discussing the rules of engagement provided to deployed troops, Manner expressed skepticism about their adequacy.
Every soldier is expected to receive thorough training on the ‘Rules for the Use of Force,’ which should be reinforced beyond just a one-time briefing.
Manner outlined the particular dangers of deploying military personnel in situations that are inherently police actions rather than military operations.
He called for a reevaluation of the deployment criteria as it diverges from the National Guard’s core mission and could have lasting implications for both the troops and the communities they serve.
Overall, the deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., has initiated a broader conversation about the role of the military in civilian contexts, as differing opinions emerge from political figures regarding its appropriateness and implications.
image source from：npr
