WASHINGTON — Three Republican-led states announced Saturday the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., intensifying President Donald Trump’s federal intervention aimed at reshaping local policing and addressing crime and homelessness in the nation’s capital.
West Virginia said it is sending 300 to 400 troops, South Carolina committed 200, and Ohio pledged 150 military police in the coming days.
The reinforcements follow Trump’s executive order federalizing the D.C. police force and activating around 800 District of Columbia National Guard members.
By expanding the military footprint in the Democratic-controlled city, Trump is tightening federal control under the justification of a public safety emergency, despite city leaders noting that violent crime is lower now than during his first term in office.
National Guard troops, who have so far played limited roles, have been seen patrolling prominent landmarks like Union Station and the National Mall. Their presence now appears set to grow significantly.
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, in a statement, said his state “is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” confirming the deployment of up to 400 soldiers.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said the 200 troops he is sending were requested by the Pentagon. He added that in the event of a natural disaster, they would be recalled.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced his state would send 150 military police to “carry out presence patrols and serve as added security,” after receiving a formal request from Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.
The buildup comes as Trump downplays the need for D.C. to expand its local police force, instead relying on federal law enforcement and military support.
Protesters gathered at Dupont Circle on Saturday before marching to the White House, denouncing the president’s move as authoritarian. Chants of “No fascist takeover of D.C.” rang out, and demonstrators held signs reading “No military occupation.”
“It’s hot, but I’m glad to be here,” said Morgan Taylor, one of the organizers. “I can’t believe this is happening in this country at this time.”
John Finnigan, a longtime D.C. resident, called the deployment “ridiculous,” arguing that Trump was using crime as a pretext to seize control of local policing.
Others expressed alarm over the appearance of unmarked federal agents and the implications for civil liberties. “It’s very uncomfortable and worrying,” said Jamie Dickstein, a 24-year-old teacher who joined the protest with friends and family.
While city officials are legally obligated to comply with the federal order under D.C.'s governance laws, they have pushed back against the scope of Trump’s actions.
On Friday, the administration rescinded a controversial plan to name the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as “emergency police commissioner,” after the D.C. attorney general filed suit. However, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo that directed D.C. police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, overriding local sanctuary laws.
Trump’s executive order declared an emergency due to what he called the “city government’s failure to maintain public order.” He said the unrest endangered federal operations and personnel in the capital.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, responded with a letter to residents urging unity. “Our limited self-government has never faced the type of test we are facing right now,” she wrote. “But if we stick together, we will show the entire nation what it looks like to fight for American democracy — even when we don’t have full access to it.” — Agencies
