The White House said the National Guard would establish a “physical presence” in Washington, D.C., but the military was nowhere to be seen across the national mall or the neighbourhood.
DC residents question the need for the National Guard amid low crime rates
Washington, D.C. residents expressed concern over the arrival of the National Guard, questioned the need for it, and viewed it as a political overreach.
WASHINGTON – Capitol residents and tourists woke up to a relatively small number of National Guard patrol the streets on August 13, amid President Donald Trump’s cleaning up for crime and homelessness.
Trump has mobilized 800 members of the security guard, but not all are unfolding yet. He also ordered the city’s metropolitan police station to be under the control of the Department of Justice.
“You’ll see them flowing onto the streets of Washington in the coming weeks,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegses said at an August 12 press conference. “They’ll be stronger. They’ll be tough.”
Mayor Muriel Bowser staff said on August 12 that the biggest portion of the surge would occur overnight, and the city had planned to keep security guards close to tourist hotspots like national monuments. The security guard’s commander of the 273rd Military Police Company shared images on social media for the armored Humvee, parked next to the Washington Memorial.
However, the National Guard forces were not found anywhere along the National Mall. Tourists were walking from the memorial to the memorial, with police presence increasing, standing on sidewalks and squad cars.
Most of the National Guard seen in DC
A roaming group of federal agents and park police patrol the area, patrolling at one point in front of a homeless man, ordering him to move peacefully. No National Guard troops were seen.
Even in areas where former Doge staff were assaulted while intervening in unarmed carjacking, the example of violent crime in cities highlighted by the White House – was quiet with little law enforcement presence.
Local residents told USA Today that Trump’s actions were excessive and wasted taxpayer dollars.
“It’s incredible,” said Isaiah Walter, born and raised in Congress Heights, a majority black district in Southeast DC.
According to an interactive map on the city’s government website, violent crime is the highest on the southeastern corner of the city known as the 8th district, including the Navy Yard, Anacostia. But nonetheless, Walter said he saw the city become safer throughout his life, especially in the past few years after the pandemic.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” he said.
While many residents have expressed disapproval, some have shown support for the president’s decision. While walking with her child on August 12, Rebecca Herkey told Reuters that crime was considering leaving the capital, which was a “very aggressive fear” in her life.
What does the National Guard do?
The mission of the 800 DC Guard members is similar to how the troops support the army clustering the southern border, the Army said.
The Army, responsible for deploying the District of Columbia National Guard, says the military will be subject to administrative and logistical obligations, supporting law enforcement with a “physical being.”
Bowser said her administration hopes that Trump can actively deploy city security guards given that he has hundreds of security guards. Officers are now approaching a deployment strategy, she said, and are looking at “how additional federal police officers can help in some areas.”
Trump also told reporters on August 11 that his administration would “defeat people from underground passages and public spaces from public spaces throughout the city.”
“We’re going to remove the homeless camps from the beautiful parks. Now, a lot of people can’t walk,” Trump said.
Contributions: Trevor Hughes, Michael Loria, Tao Nuguen, Cybele Maze Osterman, USA Today; Reuters
