This week, hundreds of National Guard soldiers in uniform were deployed across the U.S. capital, patrolling the National Mall and interacting with tourists. However, residents in the city’s most crime-affected neighborhoods say they have yet to see any military presence.
Under President Donald Trump’s federal crime crackdown, nearly 2,000 troops, including 1,200 from six Republican-led states, have been stationed in central Washington. Instead of patrolling high-crime areas like Ward 8 in the city’s southeast, soldiers were spotted outside landmarks such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
“It’s boring. We’re not really doing much,” said Sergeant Fox of the West Virginia National Guard, as he stood with fellow soldiers on a street corner far from the city’s crime hotspots.
Local Leaders Question the Motive
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has criticized the deployment, warning of “an armed militia in the nation’s capital.” Although the soldiers observed by Reuters on Thursday were unarmed, the Pentagon has confirmed they will soon be carrying service weapons.
Democratic officials contend the deployment is more about political optics than preventing crime, especially since Washington’s overall crime rate has been on the decline in recent years. “This isn’t about tackling crime,” Bowser stated, adding that federal agents are already active in the neighborhoods where arrests are being made.
Divided Community Response
In Ward 8, which has one of the highest homicide rates in the city, residents expressed frustration. “I haven’t seen any. This is where they need to be,” said Shawana Turner, a 50-year-old housing case manager.
Conversely, tourists welcomed the soldiers’ presence in the city’s historic core. “It feels cleaner and safer,” said Anu Pokharel, a software engineer visiting from Boston with his family.
A Rare and Controversial Move
Deploying soldiers on U.S. streets is a rare occurrence. National Guard units have previously been called into Washington for presidential inaugurations and major protests, including the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Retired Major General Randy Manner noted that Trump’s decision could set a new precedent. “Not in our lifetimes has a president used uniformed soldiers to reduce crime,” he said. “This is turning into a militarized environment, and it’s extremely sad.”
Trump, however, has indicated that the crackdown will extend beyond Washington. During a recent visit to a police base, he suggested similar deployments could target other Democratic-led cities like Chicago and New York.
