Georgia to Deploy National Guard to D.C.

Georgia’s Governor, Brian Kemp, announced on Friday that the state will be sending over 300 National Guard members to Washington, D.C. to assist President Donald Trump’s initiative aimed at restoring “public safety.”

Kemp expressed pride in Georgia’s support for the Trump administration’s efforts, stating, “We share our commitment to maintaining public safety. These brave security guards have shown, time and again, that they are well-equipped to handle their duties and serve the people of our nation.”

The deployment is intended to provide relief to military personnel already stationed in the capital, according to Kemp’s office. The Georgian forces are set to mobilize around mid-September.

Earlier in the month, Trump had reacted by revitalizing 800 members of the D.C. National Guard, focusing on issues like crime reduction, illegal immigration, and homelessness in the area. Georgia is joining a group of seven other states, which includes Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

According to Kemp’s office, Georgia has already sent 16 soldiers to serve in support roles, particularly in medical, public affairs, and military police assistance. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia military has extended its deployment order until December and has initiated legal action against the Trump administration concerning the use of National Guard forces.

This summer, the administration previously dispatched troops to Los Angeles in response to protests, and discussions about future deployments to other Democratic-controlled cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, and New York, have also been floated.