The United States President Donald Trump placed Washington DC, the police department under federal control and put 800 National Guard soldiers into the capital. The National Guard was deployed in Washington DC to make the American capital “safer” – but who exactly and how will they work to keep the DC safe?
Who is the National Guard?
The United States National Guard – consisting of the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard – with more than 430,000 civilian soldiers, is a unique branch of the American armed forces. The power to order the deployment of the National Guard is both the Governors of the State and the President.
It develops from colonial militias to modern, well -equipped strength and responds to domestic crises, such as natural disasters, pandemic, protests and border challenges, while supporting overseas missions in places such as Afghanistan, Ukraine and the Middle East.
Although it is usually called to respond to state -level emergencies, the National Guard was also called to enforce the law. Also read | TV host Rachel Maddow tears into Trump, says “It’s not a crime, likes to use strength”
The National Guard DC is primarily under federal control.
Donald Trump declared the emergency situation of public security and ordered the deployment of the National Guard to support local and federal enforcement of law in Washington, DC.
What will the National Guard in Washington do?
According to reports, the National Guard was entrusted with an intervention of crime and homelessness in Washington, DC.
In its statement, the military said that out of 800 at least 100-200 soldiers would help the coercive bodies at any time. Like Los Angeles, the National Guard would help federal agents.
The White House official said: “At present, the National Guard is deployed to protect federal assets, provides a safe environment for police officials to arrest and discourage violent crime with a visible presence of law enforcement.”
Why did Trump put the National Guard in Washington?
Donald Trump said last week that he was considering ways to take control of Washington, and claims that crimes have increased and the city was “dangerous”. The claims came after the former employee of the Ministry of the Government (DOGE) was attacked in the city.
Trump also quoted the growing number of homeless people in Washington, DC – often escalated his rhetoric before the deployment of the National Guard.
On Sunday Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The homeless must move away immediately. We will give you places to stay but far from the capital. Criminals, you do not have to move. We will put you in prison where you belong.”
The US President also quoted a recent attack on federal Staffer and viral videos of youth crime to claim that national capital was in crisis.
Mayor of Washington is pushing back
Democratic mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, refuted Trump’s claim and said that the city “is not experiencing a criminal” and emphasizes that the violent crime has fallen for 30 years. Trump called Bowser “a good person who tried” but said that she was given many chances, while the number of crimes is getting worse.
In the first seven months of 2025, a violent crime dropped by 26% and, according to the police department, fell by 7%. But weapons violence remains a problem. In 2023, Washington had the third highest level of weapon murder among American cities with populations over 500,000, according to the Everytown weapons control group for weapons security.
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