Eleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting representative from D.C., proposed a law on Tuesday mandating that National Guard troops wear body cameras while patrolling in Washington, D.C.
Norton mentioned in her statement that the bill aims to enhance transparency in military interactions with the public and safeguard both citizens and military personnel.
“More than 2,000 troops have been deployed to D.C. by the Trump administration, and it’s hard to explain this situation to the local residents. Even the D.C. National Guard operates under the president’s command and doesn’t report to the D.C. government,” Norton expressed.
“This deployment is unjust, potentially politicizing the military and affecting National Guard members who are pulled away from their families and jobs, along with residents who haven’t asked for this,” she added.
“By utilizing body cameras, we can foster transparency and protect both the National Guard and D.C. residents from accusations of misconduct,” she noted.
The proposed legislation would require national security personnel to engage in programs similar to the Metropolitan Police Department’s established body camera initiative, ensuring that footage is properly stored and accessible, according to Norton.
This month, Trump also sent hundreds of security personnel to the district and transformed local police stations into federal command centers as part of a federal initiative to combat crime. States like Mississippi, Ohio, and West Virginia have also contributed additional personnel.
The Pentagon confirmed on Monday that some National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. started carrying weapons as of Sunday evening, following an order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegses approved last week.
Democrats have been vocally opposing these ongoing actions, while city officials have provided evidence that crime rates have actually declined across several categories in recent years.
However, Trump dismissed those claims, accusing local officials of fabricating crime statistics to create a misleading sense of security and criticizing the district for resisting the administration’s initiatives to enhance safety.
