The Trump administration has intensified its grip on the capital by combining federalized police, local Guard units, and now out-of-state reinforcements. Declaring a “crime emergency,” the White House argued the measures were necessary to restore order and address homelessness, despite data showing violent crime rates remain lower than in Trump’s first term. Major General James Seward of the West Virginia National Guard said his forces were “ready and uniquely capable” of supporting partners in Washington, citing their track record in emergency response and national missions. The governor, a close ally of Trump, portrayed the deployment as part of a broader effort to “restore pride and beauty” to the capital.

Washington officials have pushed back against the scale of federal intervention. A controversial move to appoint the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as “emergency police commissioner” was overturned after a legal challenge, though Attorney General Pam Bond has instructed D.C. police to coordinate with federal immigration enforcement, sparking further tension. Mayor Muriel Bowser warned residents that the city’s fragile autonomy was under its greatest threat, calling the intervention an “unprecedented takeover of local authority.” The deployment has divided public opinion nationwide, with supporters praising the crackdown as necessary for security and opponents denouncing it as federal overreach.