Nearly half of the approximately 2,450 National Guard troops currently in Washington, D.C., are expected to leave this fall, as President Trump continues his crime enforcement efforts.
Officials from Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Ohio, and West Virginia are coordinating to withdraw a total of 1,131 troops by late October or November, according to a report.
A spokesperson for the D.C. Joint Task Force chose not to comment, directing inquiries to the governor’s office instead.
The National Guard has been active in the capital since August, following President Trump’s executive order that declared a state of criminal emergency. This order placed local police under federal authority for 30 days and directed the National Guard to remain on duty in the city.
Unlike their typical role during emergencies like hurricanes or wildfires, the troops in D.C. have mostly been tasked with patrolling tourist hotspots, such as the National Mall. They’ve also assisted the U.S. Park Service with various “beautification projects,” which include trivial tasks like raking leaves and picking up litter.
As of Thursday, there are 2,453 troops in the city—comprising 971 from the D.C. National Guard and 1,482 from other states.
While there’s a possibility that the deployment timeline may be extended, the planned withdrawals indicate that the number of troops in the nation’s capital could significantly decrease. President Trump is reportedly considering redeploying them to U.S. cities like Portland and Chicago, where legal challenges have emerged to block such actions.
Troops were observed outside Chicago recently and were seen patrolling the streets of Memphis for the first time.
States such as Alabama, Louisiana, and South Dakota have troops stationed but have not announced when they will withdraw.
South Carolina is sending 40 troops to Washington, having initially dispatched 200, and they plan to withdraw by the end of October. Meanwhile, Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi, and West Virginia aim to withdraw their troops by November 30th.
The D.C. National Guard’s presence is set to continue through at least December, following an extension of the deployment in September. However, the D.C. attorney general has filed a lawsuit to challenge this deployment, with a hearing set for October 24.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser criticized the out-of-state troops, stating they’re “not effectively utilizing their resources.”
Regarding the planned troop withdrawal, the White House did not respond right away, mentioning staffing shortages due to the ongoing government shutdown.
