Trump orders national guard expansion in Washington
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US President Donald Trump ordered a major expansion of the National Guard in Washington, adding new security units, more police, and stricter federal custody rules as part of his crime crackdown.
US President Donald Trump on Monday announced new measures to expand security operations in Washington, strengthening what he has called a crackdown on crime in the US capital.
The National Guard deployment in Washington now exceeds 2,200 troops, following Trump’s earlier orders this month.
On Monday, he instructed US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to establish a specialized unit within Washington’s National Guard “dedicated to ensuring public safety and order in the nation’s capital.”
As part of the same executive order, Trump directed the hiring of more National Park Police officers and additional prosecutors to focus on violent and property crime cases.
He also targeted cashless bail policies, ordering that those arrested should be held in federal custody “to the fullest extent permissible” and prosecuted with federal charges whenever possible.
Trump said the measures were designed to ensure “criminal defendants who pose a threat to public safety are not released from custody prior to trial.”
Read more: Trump eyes Chicago for National Guard troop deployment
Military and law enforcement presence in the United States
The previous day, National Guard forces in Washington began carrying their service-issued weapons, though the US military stressed they are authorized to use force only as a last resort.
The troops deployed come not only from Washington but also from Republican-led states including West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
In addition, federal law enforcement personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have increased their presence on Washington’s streets, sparking protests from some residents.
Read more: After Chicago, NYC, Trump turns to Baltimore amid federal crackdown
Crime trends and political debate
Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly claimed that Washington is plagued by crime, homelessness, and financial mismanagement. However, police data shows that violent crime fell significantly between 2023 and 2024, though this decline followed a post-pandemic surge.
The expansion of the National Guard and additional federal measures have deepened the political debate over how to address security in the United States capital, reflecting broader national divides over crime and law enforcement.
