In Washington, D.C., Eleanor Holmes Norton is scrutinizing the expenses related to the deployment of the National Guard within the capital, alongside the legal boundaries and implications of this action.
Norton mentioned, “D.C. has either requested or rejected a significant increase in National Guard troop presence, which has recently been allowed to carry weapons here, even with D.C. experiencing its lowest crime rate in three decades.” She made this statement on Monday.
She emphasized that “our principles of democracy dictate that the military shouldn’t be involved in civil law enforcement and hasn’t received training in that regard.”
In a letter directed to National Guard Director General Pete Hegses and General Stephen Nordaus, Norton reiterated her strong opposition to the current developments, noting that the forces primarily consist of individuals of color, while the city’s residents have been deprived of proper representation, affecting over 700,000 people.
She has sought answers to a range of questions by this weekend, covering the cost of the operation, the authority to “stop, detain, or arrest individuals,” and the enforcement of federal or local laws.
Norton also inquired about the policies on the use of force, the training provided to the troops, the overall mission of the deployment, and whether these troops fall under local jurisdiction.
The Pentagon and the National Guard have been contacted for comments regarding this matter.
Earlier this month, under Trump’s administration, hundreds were deployed in the district, turning local police stations into extensions of federal authority as part of an initiative to tackle crime. States like Mississippi, Ohio, and West Virginia also contributed personnel.
Democrats have sharply criticized this ongoing effort, pointing to data indicating that crime rates in several categories have decreased in recent years.
In contrast, Trump has disputed these statistics, claiming that they are misleading and accusing D.C. officials of undermining his administration’s attempts to restore safety in the district.
