The Republican governors of West Virginia, South Carolina, and Ohio announced plans to send hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., following a request from President Donald Trump’s administration, which has portrayed the capital as overrun by crime.
The deployment decisions, revealed Saturday, came a day after the Trump administration and D.C. officials reached an agreement allowing Mayor Muriel Bowser’s appointed police chief, Pamela Smith, to remain in charge of the police department. This followed a lawsuit by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb seeking to block a federal takeover of the force.
Trump, a Republican, said earlier this week he was mobilizing D.C.’s National Guard and temporarily taking control of the city’s police department, framing the move as necessary to tackle crime and homelessness. Yet Justice Department data indicates violent crime in 2024 dropped to its lowest level in three decades.
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey’s office confirmed between 300 and 400 National Guard troops would be sent to Washington, along with equipment and specialized training, as part of “a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation.” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said 200 troops would be deployed in response to a Pentagon request, while Ohio Governor Mike DeWine pledged 150 military police officers, noting none currently serve as law enforcement officers in Ohio.
Mayor Bowser responded on X, calling the move “#UnAmerican,” warning against U.S. soldiers policing American citizens.
Expanding Presidential Authority
The National Guard typically reports to state governors, except in D.C., where it answers directly to the president. Trump has hinted at extending similar actions to other Democrat-led cities, part of his broader effort to expand presidential power in his second term, including interventions in banks, law firms, and universities.
In June, he dispatched 700 Marines and 4,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles—over the objections of California’s governor—during protests against federal immigration raids.
Governor McMaster stressed that his troops would return immediately if South Carolina faced an emergency, such as Hurricane Erin, a Category 5 storm threatening the U.S. East Coast.
Traditionally, the National Guard responds to natural disasters rather than patrolling civilians. West Virginia officials said they received orders late Friday and are preparing the deployment.
A White House official confirmed more Guard members will be deployed to D.C. to secure federal property, support law enforcement, and deter crime. A U.S. official added that an upcoming order may authorize them to carry firearms, primarily for military police. For now, troops are patrolling around the National Mall and Union Station on foot and in vehicles but are not making arrests.
The legality of further deployments remains uncertain, with a federal judge in San Francisco expected to rule soon on whether Trump’s Los Angeles deployment violated federal law.
