In Washington, D.C., the news was clear on the morning of August 13—locals and visitors alike noticed that there were hardly any National Guard troops out and about, as the President Donald Trump launched his bold initiative to tackle crime and homelessness.
Though Trump has called upon 800 members of the National Guard, not all of them took to the streets just yet. In a decisive move, he also announced that the city’s Metropolitan Police would now be managed by the Justice Department.
At a news conference on August 12, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth promised, “You’ll see them flow into the streets of Washington very soon. They will be strong. They will be tough.”
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On that same day, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s team shared that the bulk of the troop surge was expected to start coming in overnight. They aimed to position the guardsmen close to popular tourist areas, like the national monuments. Meanwhile, the commanders of the 273rd Military Police Company shared pictures online of armored Humvees at the iconic Washington Monument.
However, as people strolled down the National Mall visiting different monuments, the National Guard was notably absent, despite an observable increase in police presence.
Guard Forces Sparse in D.C.
Uniformed federal agents and park police were active in the area, even stopping a homeless man to ask him to move along, a request he complied with without any fuss. A Park Police helicopter was seen hovering above, making rounds in the area, yet still, no National Guard members were present.
Even in a place infamous for a recent carjacking incident involving a former DOGE staffer—an event highlighted by the White House as known local violence—the scene appeared calm, with little law enforcement visible.
Distrust towards these developments ran deep among locals, many telling USA TODAY they found Trump’s measures to be overkill and a potential misuse of taxpayer money.
“It’s unbelievable,” expressed Isaiah Walter, a local from Congress Heights, a predominantly Black neighborhood in southeast D.C.
Though data shows violent crime peaks in Area Ward 8, where Congress Heights is located among others, Walter insists that his neighborhood has seen improvements in safety over recent years, particularly since the pandemic hit.
“I really don’t think it’s necessary,” Walter added.
Yet, there exists a fraction of the population that backs Trump’s strategy. On a walk with her child on August 12, Rebecca Harkey confided to Reuters that the rising crime rates pushed her to think about leaving the capital, as it’s a “very real fear” for her daily life.
Purpose of the National Guard Presence
The role of the 800 National Guard members deployed resembles recent deployments at the southern border, as outlined by military authorities.
Per their announcement, the troops will deal with administrative and logistical tasks while also adding to law enforcement’s “physical presence” in the city.
Mayor Bowser hopes to turn Trump’s decision into something beneficial for D.C., especially considering the police force is currently short-handed by hundreds of officers. Her strategy involves reassessing how federal police can enhance coverage in certain areas.
Additionally, on August 11, Trump told reporters about initiatives aimed at clearing homeless encampments from parks, asserting these gorgeous spaces need to remain accessible for everyone, emphasizing, “People can’t walk there anymore.”
Contribution from: Trevor Hughes, Michael Loriaand Thao Nguyen, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY; Reuters
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Limited Visibility of National Guard in DC Amid Controversial Deployment
