President Donald Trump announced on Monday the deployment of 800 National Guardsmen to Washington, D.C., marking the latest initiative involving military personnel on U.S. soil during his second term, which is now entering its seventh month.
During a news conference, Trump articulated that the mission for the National Guard is to “help reestablish law, order, and public safety in Washington, D.C.”
Trump added, “And they are going to be allowed to do their job properly.”
Accompanying him at the conference was Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who confirmed that the deployment of the District of Columbia National Guard is taking place at the president’s direction.
“You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week,” Hegseth informed reporters, elaborating that additional units, including specialized groups, are prepared to support the mission if required.
Maj. Montrell Russell, an Army spokesperson, indicated that between 100 and 200 activated D.C. National Guard soldiers would be tasked with supporting law enforcement, performing duties ranging from administrative support to maintaining a physical presence in the city.
In a memo addressed to Hegseth, Trump specified that the D.C. National Guard would remain mobilized “until I determine that conditions of law and order have been restored in the District of Columbia.”
Furthermore, he directed Hegseth to collaborate with state governors to potentially deploy their National Guard troops to enhance security in the nation’s capital.
Prior to the news conference, Trump took to social media, declaring, “Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER!”
At the conference, Trump expressed hope that other cities might take note of Washington’s situation. “Other cities are hopefully watching this,” he remarked. “And maybe they’ll self clean up, and maybe they’ll self do this and get rid of the cashless bail thing and all of the things that cause the problem.”
The D.C. National Guard comprises approximately 2,700 soldiers and airmen. Unlike other National Guard commands that answer to state governors, the D.C. National Guard operates under the direct authority of the president, with its activation authority delegated to the Secretary of the Army.
This recent order follows a series of National Guard deployments in the D.C. area. The D.C. National Guard has been a familiar presence during significant events such as presidential inaugurations, and they were mobilized amid protests following George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, and again after the pro-Trump insurrection on January 6, 2021.
The move to deploy the National Guard comes after Trump made several statements criticizing the city’s leadership and its rising crime rates. Just last week, he indicated that if “D.C. doesn’t get its act together, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the city.”
Although Trump alleges that crime in D.C. is escalating, recent Justice Department statistics suggest that violent crime is at a 30-year low, having decreased by 35% from 2023 to 2024.
Trump has also focused on the issue of homelessness in the city. On social media, he urged the unhoused to “move out, IMMEDIATELY,” threatening eviction if they do not comply. He did mention that they would be provided with housing alternatives “far” from the city, though further details were not disclosed in his posts.
According to the Community Partnership, an organization dedicated to addressing homelessness in the district, there are 3,782 single individuals and 1,356 adults and children in families who experience homelessness on any given night. The majority reside in shelters or transitional housing, with fewer than 800 individuals living on the streets. Approximately 5% of the homeless population are military veterans.
The FBI has also started deploying agents for nighttime patrols around Washington, D.C., in support of local law enforcement, following Trump’s claims regarding violent crime in the area, as reported by the Washington Post.
This move is not the first time Trump has utilized the National Guard in urban areas. Back in June, he ordered a contingent from the California National Guard to federalize under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, also responding to protests related to immigration raids in Los Angeles.
That operation involved 4,100 California National Guardsmen, along with hundreds of Marines, primarily assigned to ensure the security of federal property and personnel. They were approachable support for Department of Homeland Security agents, engaged in immigration raids and drug busts. Approximately 300 California Guardsmen are still under federal command.
While addressing his approach to tackling crime in Washington, Trump emphasized that his administration would also consider similar actions in other cities. “If we need to, we’re going to do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster,” Trump noted, further mentioning that he hoped Los Angeles would take heed.
As the situation develops, the role and impact of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. continue to be areas of keen observation, especially in light of Trump’s vigorous statements concerning crime and public safety.
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