Hundreds of National Guard soldiers in fatigues were deployed across the U.S. capital this week, patrolling the National Mall and mingling with tourists, even as residents of the city’s most crime-affected neighborhoods say they have yet to see any military presence.
Nearly 2,000 troops, including 1,200 sent from six Republican-led states, have been stationed in central Washington under President Donald Trump’s federal crime crackdown.
But instead of patrolling high-crime areas such as Ward 8 in the city’s southeast, soldiers were seen outside landmarks including 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, standing with fellow soldiers on a street corner far from the city’s crime hot spots.
Local leaders question motive
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the deployment, warning about the presence of “an armed militia in the nation’s capital.” While the soldiers observed by Reuters on Thursday were not armed, the Pentagon confirmed that they will soon carry service weapons.
Democratic officials argue the deployment is more about political optics than crime prevention, given that Washington’s overall crime rate has been declining in recent years.
“This isn’t about tackling crime,” Bowser said, adding that federal agents are already active in neighborhoods where arrests are being made.
Community response split
In Ward 8, where homicide rates remain among the highest 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.
By contrast, tourists welcomed the presence of soldiers in the city’s historic core. “It feels cleaner and safer,” said Anu Pokharel, a software engineer visiting from Boston with his family.
Rare and controversial move
Deploying soldiers on U.S. streets remains rare. National Guard units have previously been called into Washington during presidential inaugurations and mass protests, including the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Retired Major General Randy Manner said 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 signaled that the crackdown will expand beyond Washington. During a recent police base visit, he suggested deployments could target other Democratic-led cities such as Chicago and New York.
