National Guard soldiers pick up debris Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 in Washington at the Washington Monument. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
WASHINGTON — More than 2,200 National Guard troops are in the nation’s capital as part of President Donald Trump’s order Aug. 11 to deploy throughout the city and help combat crime.
“Crime numbers are way down in DC! Amazing progress being made,” Trump posted in all caps Wednesday morning on Truth Social.
National Guardsmen wear sidearms as they patrol Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 in Washington at Union Station. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
National Guard soldiers patrol Union Station Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the National Guard patrol Union Station Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
National Guard soldiers patrol Union Station Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
National Guard troops patrol Union Station Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
National Guard troops patrol Union Station Monday, Aug. 25, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, in a post on X on Wednesday said 1,178 arrests have occurred and 123 illegal guns have been seized. Her post did not specify the time frame, but the federal takeover of D.C.’s police began Aug. 7.
More than 900 National Guard from D.C. and about 1,300 troops from six states are not making arrests. Pentagon and Army officials have said troops will coordinate with other federal agencies and be a deterrent. It comes as Trump on Monday ordered the National Guard in each state to create a quick-response force to quell protests and deter crime in their respective states.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week authorized troops in D.C. to carry weapons. Some troops have been seen in recent days outside Union Station and the Lincoln Memorial with firearms.
Some troops also have begun working on more than 40 beautification projects across the city. Some projects include near Washington’s Tidal Basin where the cherry trees are seen, spreading mulch along the waterfront near The Wharf, picking up trash near the White House and the Washington Monument, and weeding near the East Potomac Park golf center.
D.C. National Guard troops cut grass Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025 near a golf center in East Potomac Park in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the D.C. National Guard cut grass Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, in near a golf center in East Potomac Park in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
D.C. National Guard soldiers pick up trash Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, near a golf center in East Potomac Park in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
D.C. National Guard troops pick up trash Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, near a golf center in East Potomac Park in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
The Guard’s mission expanded last week to include patrolling 10 Metro stations in support of transit police. The Guard is working on a staffing request from the Metropolitan Police Department to increase its presence at metro locations in conjunction with the start of the school year in Washington, the Joint Task Force-District of Columbia said.
National Guardsmen patrol the Washington Monument on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
West Virginia National Guardsmen patrol Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
National Guard troops clear debris Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, at Lafayette Square in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
National Guardsmen pick up debris Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025, near the Washington Monument. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)
