DC residents debate safety gains a year into Trump’s Guard deployment | Crime News
National Guard Deployment in Washington: A Year of Divided Opinions
Washington, D.C. — A year after President Donald Trump initiated the deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., perspectives on the operation’s effectiveness remain mixed among residents, officials, and experts.
In August 2025, thousands of troops were mobilized to the capital as part of Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Task Force, following his declaration of a crime emergency in the city. This move, however, was met with swift opposition from many D.C. residents, leading to ongoing protests throughout the year organized by advocacy groups such as Free DC. Just this week, the group held a demonstration outside the White House, condemning what they describe as a “hostile military occupation.”
“I think Trump should go ahead and let them go home,” said Ybonne Coles, a 60-year-old restaurant worker born in the capital. On a sweltering August day, as soldiers patrolled nearby, she expressed frustration, saying, “They ain’t doing nothing but walking. That money could go towards organizations to help people that really need help.”
The deployment has also attracted criticism from legal officials who argue it violates constitutional limits. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on September 4, contending that the military presence is an illegal use of force for local law enforcement, a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. A U.S. District Court ruled on November 20 to end the deployment, but the administration’s appeal resulted in a stay of that order as litigation continues.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, whom Trump has blamed for what he labels increasing crime rates, has similarly criticized the legality of the deployment. At a conference in October, Bowser stated, “We use the Guard to respond to emergencies… We do not use the Guard to police our local laws.”
As the deployment nears its one-year anniversary, federal officials announced plans for an additional 1,500 National Guard troops in preparation for D.C.’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
While many oppose the military presence, not everyone shares that sentiment. Aaron Taslitz, a 30-year-old teacher and bike courier in D.C., expressed a sense of safety with the troops in the area, saying, “For the most part, they’ve kept things peaceful and tranquil.”
Trump has frequently criticized D.C., calling it “one of the most unsafe cities anywhere in the world,” and claims that crime has decreased by 88 percent since the Guard’s arrival. However, assessments of the deployment’s impact on crime rates remain unclear. A May report by the Niskanen Center found no significant effect on violent crime, which has consistently declined in the district over the last few years. While the report noted reductions in property crime, it indicated limited influence on opportunistic crimes.
“They’re not trained police officers,” Richard Hahn, a co-author of the report, explained. “The best thing a National Guard member can be, in terms of a crime deterrent, is a sentinel.” Patrols have primarily focused on high-traffic areas, which do not necessarily correspond with the locations most affected by violent crime.
Currently, a total of 4,636 troops are assigned to the D.C. mission, including nearly 700 from the D.C. National Guard and thousands more from various state units, with Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi contributing the largest numbers. Local media have noted a lack of troop presence in areas east of the Anacostia River, where violent crime rates are notably higher.
Concerns regarding the deployment extend beyond its legality. A Senate report led by Senators Gary Peters and Andy Kim raised alarms about the deployment potentially harming local trust in law enforcement and politicizing the armed forces. The report also highlighted privacy issues stemming from the Guard’s use of software tools for social media monitoring.
Since the deployment’s inception, the National Guard has faced multiple lawsuits. The ACLU filed a claim on behalf of Anna King, a retired U.S. Army captain who alleged she was wrongfully detained by Idaho National Guard members during a protest against the military’s presence. Her lawyer characterized the event as an “aggressive use of force” that raised broader concerns about the military’s role in law enforcement.
Although an official cost for the deployment’s first year has yet to be reported, the Senate Committee on Homeland Security estimates it at $602 million. The Pentagon recently announced plans to extend the National Guard’s presence in the capital through the end of Trump’s term, with total expected costs reaching an additional $1.4 billion from October 2026 to January 2029.
A service member from the Indiana National Guard, who served on the D.C. mission last November, shared his mixed feelings about the deployment. “My time there was to help the citizens of D.C.,” he said. “I’ve seen people impacted by us in a positive light.” However, he also expressed doubts about the mission’s overall effectiveness, citing low morale among his unit during the holidays. “There were days when I was like, ‘What are we doing here? We’re not really doing anything,’” he said.
