A year into an unprecedented deployment, the National Guard has become a fixture in Washington D.C., a mission initially launched by President Donald Trump following an incident he cited as evidence of the capital spiraling out of control. Despite crime rates in Washington having fallen to their lowest level in 30 years at the time of the mobilization, approximately 800 National Guard troops were deployed eight days after an assault on a programmer. This deployment, named “Make DC Safe and Beautiful,” has since expanded, with around 4,000 troops from across the country currently stationed in the capital. While this number has decreased from a summer peak of approximately 5,000, it is expected to remain between 2,500 and 3,000 troops for the remainder of Trump's term.
The sustained presence marks a significant departure from historical presidential use of military forces domestically, which have typically been reserved for brief periods of extreme unrest, security threats, or natural disasters. Past instances include President George Washington leading troops to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794 and the deployment of roughly 20,000 National Guard troops following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Guard is also commonly utilized for natural disasters due to its rapid capacity to provide personnel for labor-intensive tasks.
Initially, the administration also deployed forces to Los Angeles and Chicago as part of a broader initiative, but these missions faced legal challenges and were withdrawn. In Washington D.C., however, the National Guard operates under a unique legal framework that grants the president broader authority. The National Guard is primarily trained and built for overseas combat, with thousands of troops currently deployed internationally, including in the Middle East amid the ongoing war with Iran. Concurrently, an increasing number of domestic missions have been assigned to the Guard, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, interim commander of the D.C. National Guard, stated that deployed units are continuing their military training, including marksmanship and medical care, and sometimes train more frequently than they would otherwise. He noted that some training can complement skills used during their mission. The troops in D.C. largely spend their time patrolling tourist areas and downtown transit hubs, allowing local police to focus on higher-crime neighborhoods. However, maintaining troop rotations has presented challenges, as some states, particularly those led by Democratic governors, have been reluctant to contribute troops to a deployment strongly associated with the Trump administration, thereby narrowing the pool of available units.
Guardsmen have responded to approximately 800 medical emergencies, administering Narcan 325 times and assisting with tasks like reuniting lost children with their parents. Critics, such as Senator Chris Coons, have questioned the necessity of using National Guard members for policing in D.C., suggesting that funding could be better allocated to hiring additional D.C. police officers. An analysis by the Niskanen Center suggested the government spends roughly $607 per Guardsman daily, compared to $384 for a D.C. police officer, and found no clear reduction in violent crime attributable to the Guard's presence, though property crime saw a decline during the deployment.
The Pentagon is undertaking long-term arrangements for the troops, including a $292 million contract for housing in local apartments, intended to replace costly hotel accommodations and save an estimated $90 million through 2029. The total projected cost for the deployment through 2029 is an additional $1.4 billion, marking the first public accounting of the mission's anticipated expenses. Previously, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the mission cost about $55 million per month for nearly 3,000 troops.
The majority of troops deployed to D.C. have come from Republican-led states, with South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida among the states maintaining a significant presence. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster affirmed his state's commitment to answering the call for National Guard service.
From the outset, military leaders were cognizant of the significant political risks associated with the deployment. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and other officials were concerned about optics, recognizing that any encounter involving guardsmen could become a national controversy, potentially harming public confidence in the institution. The incident at Kent State University in 1970, where Ohio National Guard members killed four unarmed students during anti-war protests, served as a stark reminder of the dangers of placing troops in direct contact with American citizens exercising their right to protest. Officials also feared less dramatic incidents, such as accidental weapon discharges or poor behavior by guardsmen, could derail the mission. Prior to the U.S. and Israel launching the war with Iran, the D.C. deployment was the Pentagon's most high-profile mission.
While these fears have largely not materialized, the mission experienced a serious incident in November when two West Virginia National Guard members were shot near the White House. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom died from her injuries, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was critically wounded. The Afghan national accused in the attack has pleaded not guilty, and the Justice Department is considering seeking the death penalty.