On a sunny Labor Day weekend in early September 2025, the National Mall in Washington, D.C.—often dubbed "America’s Front Yard" by the National Park Service—looked much as it always has, with tourists wandering among its iconic memorials and families enjoying the late-summer weather. But this year, something was very different: camouflaged, armed National Guard troops and federal agents dotted the landscape, their presence now a routine part of life in the nation’s capital. For many longtime residents and visitors, the sight was both jarring and, increasingly, something they’d learned to ignore.
This new normal has been seven months in the making, a direct result of President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize policing in Washington, D.C., in the name of combating crime and homelessness. According to Tribune News Service, as of September 7, roughly 2,200 uniformed soldiers and an undisclosed number of federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement—and the FBI now patrol the city. The troops aren’t just from D.C.; six Republican-led states have sent hundreds of their own National Guard members to supplement the force, a move widely seen as a gesture of support for Trump’s agenda.
Yet the justification for this show of force is hotly contested. City officials have pointed out that violent crime in D.C. is actually lower now than it was during Trump’s first term. The same is true in Chicago, another city the president has repeatedly threatened to target with federal intervention. According to city data cited by the Associated Press, violent crime in Chicago dropped significantly in the first half of 2025, with shootings down 37%, homicides down 32%, and total violent crime down over 22%. Nevertheless, the administration’s emergency declaration—granting Trump direct control over D.C.’s police force—remains in effect, set to expire on Wednesday, September 10.
The militarization of D.C. has not gone unnoticed by its residents, nor has it been universally accepted. On Saturday, September 6, thousands of protesters took to the streets in one of the largest demonstrations yet against the federal takeover. Marching more than two miles from Meridian Hill Park to Freedom Plaza near the White House, they carried a bright red banner emblazoned with "END THE D.C. OCCUPATION" in both English and Spanish. The event, called the “We Are All D.C.” protest, was organized by local Home Rule advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union. The message was clear: Washingtonians want their city back.
Among the demonstrators was Mark Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. diplomat and D.C. resident for nearly a decade. Speaking to the Associated Press, Fitzpatrick expressed deep concern about what he called the "authoritarian nature" of the administration’s actions. "Federal agents, national guards patrolling our streets, that’s really an affront to the democracy of our city," he said. Fitzpatrick also highlighted a unique challenge faced by D.C. residents: "We don’t have our own senators or members of the House of Representatives, so we’re at the mercy of a dictator like this, a wannabe dictator."
Other protesters brought their own deeply personal perspectives. Tammy Price, who once lived in D.C., described the Trump administration’s takeover as "evil" and "not for the people." Jun Lee, an artist who lives in the city, said she was "saddened and heartbroken" by the federal intervention. Carrying a handmade "Free DC" sign, Lee told reporters, "This is my home, and I never, ever thought all the stuff that I watched in a history documentary that I’m actually living in person, and this is why this is important for everyone. This is our home, we need to fight, we need to resist."
For many, the issue is not just about the current deployment but about the precedent it sets. The presence of armed soldiers and federal agents in the streets—often seen standing in formation near the World War II Memorial, milling about the Lincoln Memorial, or even quietly reading inscriptions at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial—has become so routine that, as Tribune News Service notes, most tourists barely give them a second glance. Yet, beneath this veneer of normalcy lies a deep unease. Videos circulating on social media have captured masked agents in unmarked vehicles stopping and searching residents without clear cause, raising alarm about the erosion of civil liberties.
Some of the most pointed criticism has come from the judiciary. In a recent ruling against the use of troops as police in Los Angeles, Senior District Judge Charles R. Breyer—brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer—questioned the very rationale for these deployments. "Why is the National Guard still around?" he asked during a trial last month. "What is the threat today? What was the threat yesterday or two weeks ago that allowed it? I’m trying to see whether there are any limits, any limits to the use of a federal force."
The federal government’s rationale for the continued presence of troops and agents has focused on public safety, with President Trump repeatedly citing crime and homelessness as justification. Yet, as Associated Press reporting makes clear, the data simply does not support the notion of a city under siege. In fact, the administration’s actions appear to be part of a broader strategy to assert control over Democratic-led cities. Earlier this year, Trump deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles and has threatened to do the same in Chicago, despite the city’s improving crime statistics. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker didn’t mince words, calling Trump a "wannabe dictator" who is "threatening to go to war with an American city." "This is not a joke," Pritzker wrote on X. "This is not normal."
For Washingtonians, the stakes are particularly high. D.C.’s unique status—lacking voting representation in Congress and subject to federal oversight—means its residents have fewer avenues to push back against federal intervention. As the emergency declaration’s expiration date approaches, many are left wondering what comes next. Will the troops and agents finally leave, or will the city’s new normal persist?
One thing is clear: the debate over federal force in the nation’s capital is far from settled. As protesters continue to march and judges question the administration’s authority, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Washington, D.C.—not just as a symbol of American democracy, but as a litmus test for the balance between security and civil liberties in uncertain times.
