Why Is Trump Deploying US National Guard To Washington DC?

US president Donald Trump has deployed 800 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, and taken control of the city’s police force, citing a "public safety emergency" to combat crime and homelessness. This action has been met with strong opposition from Mayor Muriel Bowser, who disputes the president’s claims about a crime wave.

On August 11th, Trump announced a "historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor," claiming the city had been "taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals." He deployed 800 National Guard troops to supplement federal law enforcement officers already in the city and placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. US Attorney General Pam Bondi has been tapped to lead the force. Trump's authority to do this stems from the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to take control of the police force for up to 30 days under "special conditions of an emergency nature".

Mayor Bowser, however, has rejected Trump's characterisation of the city's safety. While she acknowledged a "terrible" spike in crime in 2023, she pointed to city data showing significant decreases since then.According to the Metropolitan Police Department, homicides dropped by 32% between 2023 and 2024, reaching their lowest level since 2019. There has been a further 12% drop this year. Bowser stated that "we are not experiencing a crime spike" and called the president's rhetoric "hyperbolic and false". She also expressed concern about the National Guard enforcing local laws. Protesters have gathered outside the White House, chanting "hands off DC" and "protect home rule".

Trump's plan to deal with DC homelessness by removing "slums" and relocating people is challenged by local groups. They argue that the city's homelessness rate has already dropped and that his approach is unsustainable. These proposals are tied to Trump's social media criticism of DC leadership and his highlighting of attacks on federal workers. The last time the National Guard was deployed to DC was during the 2021 Capitol riot.