Trump Expands National Guard’s D.C. Role as Democrats Push for Troop Withdrawal

The Trump administration is ramping up the National Guard’s presence in Washington, D.C., granting troops expanded authority to use military vehicles and boats for law enforcement support—just as local Democrats push to withdraw hundreds of out-of-state guardsmen from the capital.

New Equipment, Expanded Role

According to a memo obtained by Politico, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth authorized the deployment of marked police cars, Humvees, tactical vehicles, and boats through the end of the year. The equipment will assist in drug busts and provide “perimeter security” in high-crime areas like Southeast D.C.’s Anacostia neighborhood. However, troops remain barred from making arrests or pursuing suspects—federal officers must be present for any apprehensions, including cases where suspects flee into the river.

Democrats Push Back

The move comes as D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto, chair of the public safety committee, announced plans to urge newly elected Democratic governors in five states to recall their National Guard personnel. Approximately 628 troops from Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas—all states that flipped to Democratic governors in the midterms—are currently stationed in the District. Pinto framed the effort as part of a broader shift following the election, declaring, “A tsunami of change is coming to our city.”

Legal and Financial Stakes

The deployment, initially ordered in 2025 under Trump’s “crime emergency” declaration, has faced legal challenges from D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who argues the president overstepped his authority. Meanwhile, the operation’s cost has ballooned to an estimated $1.4 billion through 2028, according to Defense Department figures provided to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). With troop levels once peaking at 5,000, the potential withdrawal of state contingents could trigger a fresh clash between the administration and incoming governors over control of National Guard forces.

Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-gives-d-c-troops-new-muscle-as-dems-plot-national-guard-exit