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West Virginia National Guard troops began arriving in the nation’s capital Tuesday to support President Donald Trump’s escalating crackdown on crime, a defense official confirmed. The deployments come as Republican governors from six states have pledged forces to Washington, marking a significant expansion of Trump’s effort to project security in the city.
The troops are expected to begin assisting the D.C. National Guard operationally as soon as Wednesday, once in-processing is complete.
Background: Trump’s Security Push
Trump has repeatedly criticized crime rates in Washington, though overall crime is lower this year compared to 2024. In recent weeks, he has ordered the D.C. National Guard onto city streets, surged federal agents into neighborhoods, and assumed control of the D.C. police department.
The White House says the additional deployments are necessary to restore order. But critics, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, argue the moves reflect political overreach more than public safety needs.
“We don’t have any authority over the D.C. Guard or any other guards,” Bowser said Monday. “But I think it kind of makes the point that this is not about D.C. crime.”
Deployment Details
The Pentagon says the D.C. National Guard has about 2,400 personnel, but many are training elsewhere or on leave, necessitating reinforcements from other states.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has authorized 300 to 400 troops. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry approved 135, while Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves committed about 200. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s office said roughly 160 Guard members will deploy this week, while South Carolina will send 200 and Ohio 150.
As of Monday morning, 896 D.C. Guard soldiers and airmen were already mobilized for the mission. Troops are stationed at 10 Metrorail stations but are not carrying firearms.
“This is not the request,” a defense official said when asked if Guard members would be deployed to high-crime neighborhoods. “That would be the focus of law enforcement, not the National Guard.”
Federal Government Response
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the effort, citing 52 arrests Tuesday night. She said “a significant number” occurred in high-crime areas, calling the operation proof the crackdown is “working.”
At the same time, the Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether D.C.’s police department manipulated crime data, according to two sources. Trump appeared to confirm the probe in a social media post, accusing the city of providing “Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety.”
Pushback and Political Divide
Not all Republican governors have complied. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott rejected a request to deploy his state’s Guard troops, calling the use of soldiers for law enforcement “not a proper use of the National Guard.”
“Public safety is a legitimate concern,” Scott’s office said in a statement, but “in the absence of an immediate disaster … the Governor is opposed.”
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office said the state had not received a formal request but “stands ready to lend our support, if needed.”
Meanwhile, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, denounced the Republican-led deployments. “I implore my colleagues from Ohio, West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi and every other state to reject the temptation to use their soldiers to reinforce a dangerous, politically motivated agenda,” she said.
Next Steps
The arrival of out-of-state National Guard units marks one of Trump’s most forceful interventions yet in local D.C. affairs. While the White House argues the operation is restoring order, questions remain about how long the deployments will last and whether they will deepen partisan conflict over federal control of the nation’s capital.
