National Guard May Bolster D.C. Forces in Response to Crime Surge

The American military is making provisions to bring National Guard soldiers into service in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. This move is in response to the intent expressed by President Trump to clamp down on the city’s street crime. Despite the absence of formal deployment authorization by the early hours of Monday, it is anticipated that Trump will declare, during a White House press briefing, the deployment of a number of District of Columbia National Guardsmen. These militiamen are set to back up the local law enforcement agencies in Washington, D.C.

As of the early parts of Monday, no additional specifics were accessible. This move comes amidst a backdrop of declining crime rates in Washington, D.C. In contrast to this trend, however, Trump has asserted that the city’s crime rates are spiraling ‘completely out of control.’, and has warned about the possible imposition of federal authority. Reports of these potential activations of the National Guard forces have been previously published by Reuters.

The National Guard soldiers, should they be activated, are not likely to be granted arrest powers. Instead, their role would primarily be to temper the burden on the regular law enforcement officials or to free them up for patrol duties. This interaction is designed to ensure law enforcement apparatus within the capital can operate at their optimal capacity to control street crimes.

In addition to the proposed deployment of the National Guard, the Trump administration intends to temporarily delegate 120 F.B.I. agents within Washington to nighttime patrol duties. This decision forms part of Trump’s broader strategy to curtail crime in the city. Many of these agents will have to adjourn their routine obligations at the F.B.I.’s Washington field office.

Implementing these plans for troop activation within Washington transpires after the president opted for similar measures in recent history. During the height of the summer season, close to 5,000 National Guard soldiers were called to Los Angeles. Their orders were to assist in subduing protests that had broken out in response to immigration raids, and to safeguard federal agents undertaking these raids.

Since the Los Angeles deployment, most National Guard troops have since been called off, with only about 250 remaining on duty. Consistent with his aggressive stance on domestic disorder, Mr. Trump has previously mobilized National Guard soldiers and federal law enforcement personnel to forcefully disperse peaceful protests.

During the widespread Black Lives Matter protests that followed the police-related death of George Floyd in 2020, Mr. Trump effectuated his first term mobilization of the National Guard. In striking contrast to most states where governors wield control over their National Guard, the District of Columbia offers the president a wide breadth to deploy these soldiers. This discretion is due to the city’s unique position and lack of control over its National Guard.