National Guard Begins Armed Patrols in Washington, D.C.

The National Guard commenced armed patrols in Washington D.C., America’s hub, as part of a significant effort aimed at controlling the crime rate. This move was initiated on August 24, 2025, as announced by President Donald Trump. Notably, this new stance sees more than 2,200 soldiers actively bearing their government-issued arms. The Joint Task Force-DC, the overseeing authority of the National Guard deployment, echoed this development.

The task force’s advisory highlighted that the use of force is restricted only as a countermeasure when faced with an immediate life-threatening situation. A key defense representative had mentioned earlier that the soldiers stationed in Washington will soon start patrolling with arms, which had earlier been assigned but stored in the armory.

The contingent of the National Guard activated in Washington D.C. consists of servicemen coming predominantly from the Democratic-inclined capital city itself and Republican-biased states such as West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.

Republican authorities, spearheaded by President Trump, have raised considerable concerns over the capital city’s issues with crime, homeless people, and financial mismanagement. This assessment starkly contrasts with the city’s own law enforcement data that shown a marked decrease in criminal activity from the year 2023 to 2024, particularly following the pandemic-triggered rise.

Nonetheless, President Trump continues to dispute these figures, alleging that the Mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, has been presenting incorrect and erroneous crime statistics. He cautioned that her continuation down this path could lead to unfavourable outcomes, including a total federal takeover.

Federal law enforcement – which comprises entities such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement – has also amplified its presence within the city. This move, coupled with the National Guard’s deployment, incurred criticism and led to a wave of public demonstrations.

The President hinted at the likelihood of the National Guard’s deployment reaching out to another Democratic-leaning city, Baltimore in Maryland. This is part of President Trump’s wider operation to crack down on crime and enforce stricter immigration regulations. Earlier this month, he sent the National Guard into the heart of Washington, a move criticised as unnecessary federal interference in capital city policing.

Starting Sunday, the National Guard soldiers patrol the streets of Washington with their service weapons. This marks a decisive shift from the earlier protocol where the guards kept their weapons stored in the armory, only to be used when necessary.

The decision to deploy nearly 5,000 troops to Los Angeles in June had fanned the flames of opposition. Following this, plans surfaced about the possibility of an unparalleled dispatch of the National Guard to Chicago, the third-largest city of the country.

President Trump had confirmed that the nature of the National Guard’s deployment in Chicago and New York, which are predominantly Democratic territories, would echo that being seen in Washington. He projected this as a part of his agenda to ensure safer, more secure cities.

The Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, staunchly opposed any such plans for Chicago, as did its Mayor, Brandon Johnson. Both are Democrats, and they minced no words in expressing their stern disapproval of the President’s proposition.

Governor Pritzker went on record stating that the portrayal of the Trump administration as advocates of ‘law and order’ by pro-Trump Republicans was highly inaccurate. He emphatically stated that the reality is a stark contrast to this projected image.

The Chicago Police Department’s records highlighted that the city saw 573 homicide cases in 2024, which represents an 8% reduction in comparison to the previous year. Even with these figures, the topics of crime, security, and deployment of troops in cities continue to drive heated debates in the political arena.