On Monday, August 11, 2025, President Donald Trump took the unusual and controversial step of deploying 800 National Guard members to Washington, D.C., declaring a public safety emergency and placing the city’s Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. The move, described by the White House as a response to concerns about violent crime and homelessness, has since sparked a heated debate, both within the capital and across the country.
According to CBS News, the president stated at a news conference, “I’m deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order, and public safety in Washington, DC, and they’re going to be allowed to do their job properly.” With this, the city’s streets saw an immediate and visible uptick in law enforcement and military presence, especially in tourist-heavy areas like Union Station and the National Mall. Residents and visitors alike noted the sudden change, with checkpoints springing up in neighborhoods and federal agents working alongside local police to execute warrants and patrol the city.
Yet, the deployment came at a time when, as the Justice Department confirmed, violent crime in Washington, D.C. had reached its lowest level in more than 30 years in 2024. This paradox—federal intervention in a city experiencing historic lows in crime—has fueled skepticism and concern among local officials, residents, and lawmakers.
Initially, the National Guard troops sent to D.C. were not armed, as a Defense Department official told CBS News on Thursday, August 14, 2025. The official emphasized that the Guard members had personal protective equipment, including body armor, but their weapons would remain secured in the armory unless needed. "They are equipped with personal protective equipment to include body armor; weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory," the U.S. Army said in a statement earlier in the week. The Army further clarified that the Guard would not conduct arrests.
However, by Saturday, August 16, 2025, the situation had shifted. Both CBS News and The Wall Street Journal reported that National Guard soldiers in D.C. were prepared to start carrying weapons in the coming days—a sharp reversal from previous guidance. A White House official told CBS News, “The National Guard is not making arrests at this time – they may be armed, consistent with their mission and training, to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.”
The evolving orders were confirmed by multiple outlets, including NBC News. Air National Guard Maj. Melissa Heintz, spokesperson for the Joint Task Force, explained, “Their presence is focused on supporting civil authorities and ensuring the safety of the community they serve. The DC National Guard remains committed to assisting the District of Columbia and serving its residents and visitors whenever called upon.” She also noted that the defense secretary “is authorized to mobilize additional National Guard forces, as needed, in coordination with State Governors.”
Indeed, the Trump administration’s call for reinforcements was answered by several Republican governors, who announced the deployment of their own National Guard troops to the capital. West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey declared on Saturday, August 16, that he would be sending between 300 and 400 troops, equipped with “mission-essential equipment” and “specialized training.” In a statement, Morrisey said, “West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital. The men and women of our National Guard represent the best of our state, and this mission reflects our shared commitment to a strong and secure America.”
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster authorized the deployment of 200 Guardsmen to Washington at the Pentagon’s request. McMaster stipulated that these troops could be recalled immediately if a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, were to threaten his state—a notable caveat, given that the first major hurricane of the season had just formed and was sitting as a Category 4 storm, though not expected to make landfall, according to The Associated Press. “South Carolina is proud to stand with President Trump as he works to restore law and order to our nation’s capital and ensure safety for all who live, work, and visit there,” McMaster said.
Meanwhile, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that 150 military police from the Ohio National Guard would be dispatched to D.C. to conduct presence patrols and provide added security. “These Ohio National Guard members will carry out presence patrols and serve as added security. None of these military police members are currently serving as law enforcement officers in the state of Ohio,” DeWine clarified, noting their arrival was expected in the coming days.
Despite the administration’s emphasis on restoring order, the deployment has not been without controversy. Democrats have sharply criticized the move, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries calling it “illegitimate” and an “unjustified power grab,” as reported by NBC News. The city’s leadership also pushed back. Attorney General Pam Bondi initially sought to take over control of the Metropolitan Police Department, but retreated after the city sued the Trump administration. As a result, Chief Pamela Smith remains in day-to-day control of the city’s police force.
Federal authorities have ramped up their own operations in the wake of the emergency declaration. In a social media post on Saturday, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson stated that federal authorities had made 166 arrests in D.C. in the week since the emergency was declared. President Trump himself underscored the increased federal presence, telling reporters, “When you walk down the street, you’re going to see police or you’re going to see FBI agents. We’re going to have a lot of agents on the street. You’re going to have a lot of, essentially military. And we will bring in the military if it’s needed.”
For many residents, the new reality has been jarring. Some have taken to the streets to protest the increased law enforcement and military presence, questioning the necessity of such a robust federal response when, by all official accounts, the city’s crime rate is at a generational low. Others, particularly among the city’s business owners and visitors, have expressed a mix of relief and unease—relief at the visible security, unease at the militarized atmosphere in the heart of the nation’s capital.
As of Sunday, August 17, 2025, National Guard troops were still awaiting written instructions from senior Defense Department officials regarding the arming order, according to sources familiar with the planning. Not all troops will be armed, and the exact parameters of their use of force remain the subject of ongoing discussion between federal and local authorities.
In the end, the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., has become a flashpoint in the larger national conversation about the balance between security and civil liberties, the appropriate role of federal intervention in local affairs, and the political dynamics that shape both. With the city’s crime rate at historic lows, the debate over the necessity and scope of the federal response is likely to continue, even as the Guard’s presence becomes an increasingly familiar sight on the streets of the capital.