Additional Coverage:
- 400 National Guard members descend upon DC; expanded crime crackdown expected Wednesday night (foxnews.com)
National Guard Presence Increases in Nation’s Capital
Nearly 400 members of the D.C. National Guard were deployed in Washington D.C. as of Wednesday afternoon, following President Trump’s directive to improve safety and cleanliness in the city.
A U.S. Army official confirmed this deployment to Fox News.
Hundreds more guardsmen are expected to arrive throughout Wednesday and Thursday, significantly bolstering the visible presence by Wednesday evening. A total of 800 National Guard members are expected to be on duty by the end of the week.
Since August 7th, when President Trump announced increased federal law enforcement presence in D.C., 103 arrests have been made. Guardsmen were seen arriving in military vehicles near the National Mall on Wednesday evening, staging at the D.C. armory before deploying to areas including national monuments and the Anacostia neighborhood.
President Trump also invoked the Home Rule Act, placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under federal control for a period not exceeding 30 days.
This action coincides with a broader operation addressing both crime and homelessness in the district. Individuals camping in federal parks are being given the option to leave, enter a homeless shelter, or face arrest.
On Monday, 23 arrests were made, including suspects wanted for murder and firearms offenses. Tuesday saw 43 arrests and the seizure of 24 firearms.
While only 30 National Guard troops were present Tuesday night, over 1,450 personnel, including 750 MPD officers and federal agents, participated in the operations. Starting Wednesday night, these operations will continue around the clock.
President Trump referred to the federalization of the police as “Liberation Day in D.C.” and stated his intention to “take our capital back.”