The deployment of troops from Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia will almost double the troops Trump has already deployed in Washington, D.C. amid a crime crackdown.
DC protests President Trump’s criminal crackdown and military deployment
Protesters in Washington, DC oppose President Donald Trump’s criminal crackdown and military deployment.
Hundreds of national security guards from the Republican-led state will join federal forces on the ground in Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime in the country’s capital.
Trump seized control of the district’s police on August 11, mobilizing 800 soldiers from the Washington, DC National Guard, and declared the crime “out of control.” Supporters, lawmakers, and many residents have pushed back that trait of ignoring crime data.
The Republican governor chose to strengthen Trump’s troops by sending his own security guards to Washington, starting in Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia.
“South Carolina is proud to be standing with President Trump. He will restore law and order to our country’s capital, ensuring the safety of everyone who lives, works and visits there,” South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said in a statement on August 16th regarding the sending of 200 security guards to DC.
The mobilization of troops from Republican-led states would bring the total number of security guards in the capital to over 1,000.
Here’s more to know about Washington’s ground growth forces:
How many soldiers does the Republican governor send?
Three Republicans sent members of the National Guard to Washington, and DC mobilized about 750 troops. There are 150 people from Ohio, 200 people from South Carolina and 300-400 people from West Virginia.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine called the military “the right thing” from the Buckeye state.
He said the deployment will come in response to an August 15 request from Secretary of War Daniel P. Driscoll.
“The initial decision to deploy the DC National Guard wasn’t my decision. That was the president of the US decision,” DeWine told state lawmakers. “But when the Secretary of Army asks for backup assistance from the troops that are already deployed, yes, we will back up the troops.”
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrissey said on August 16 that the deployment of the state’s troops also responded to Trump’s demands. Morrissey said their development reflects “a commitment to a strong and safe America.”
The troops are expected to arrive in a 30-day deployment where the military chief can seek extensions.
South Carolina Gov. McMaster said he remembers security guards in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster.
How much power does DC have?
The troops deployed in districts by Republican-led states will double the size of the troops Trump has already deployed, with a total of 800 to 1,550.
The federal forces will work with strong police forces on the city’s already 3,100 staff members.
Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said last week that the city’s police department was understaffed and that there should be 3,800 officers.
But she says the staffing shortage hasn’t stopped the city from achieving its lowest level of violent crime in 30 years.
“Crime levels have been declining not only since 2023, but even before the pandemic,” Bowser told a televised community meeting on August 12.
Trump has the authority to do what he did,” the Ohio government says.
Dewine shot back at Bowser and others who are questioning Trump’s deployment of security guards.
“People who don’t like it in DC don’t have the authority. The US president has that authority,” DeWine said. “Everyone can debate whether he should have authority, but that’s very clear. There’s no argument that he has authority to do what he did.”
Trump was able to deploy about a third of Washington, DC’s 2,400 National Guard troops due to the city’s unique status as a federal district.
In other parts of the country, the president has deployed thousands of troops to Los Angeles over objections from California Governor Gavin Newsom, but he cannot deploy the troops in police capacity without the consent of the state governor.
Vermont “carefully” rejects Trump’s request: Report
Not everyone who heard the call responded by sending an army.
Vermont Republican leader Gov. Phil Scott, who said he had “coolly refused,” and sent a request to send security guards to Washington, D.C., according to a report by the National Public Radio Affiliate Vermont Public.
Jason Gibbs, the governor’s chief of staff, told Vermont on August 15 that sending Green Mountain troops to Washington was outside the scope typical of soldiers.
“In the event that there is no immediate emergency or disaster that local and local first responders cannot handle, the governor does not support the use of security guards for this purpose and does not consider enforcement of domestic law as a proper use of the National Guard,” Gibbs said.
Scott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on USA Today.
Contributions by Cybele Mayes-Osterman, National Security and World Affairs Reporter for USA Today. USA Today Network Reporters Jessie Balmert Columbus dispatch and Belacarpenty Greenville News.
