West Virginia Guard to join Trump's crackdown on crime in DC

María Paula Mijares Torres, Bloomberg News on Aug 16, 2025

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WASHINGTON — West Virginia is sending several hundred National Guard troops to Washington to bolster the federal deployment that President Donald Trump has ordered in his effort to reduce crime in the nation’s capital.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey was responding to a request from the Trump administration in sending 300 to 400 of the state’s Guard troops, as well as equipment and other resources, to Washington, his office said in a statement Saturday, which made no reference to any communications with city officials.

“West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” Morrisey’s statement said.

DC National Guard troops continue to be seen on the streets of the U.S. capital after Trump activated them this week over the complaints of the District of Columbia government. He also ordered officers from several federal law enforcement agencies to patrol the streets to target crime and remove homeless encampments.

On Saturday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the D.C. Guard forces are preparing to carry weapons starting next week. The U.S. Army had earlier said those troops wouldn’t be armed.

These developments come after Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith sued to block U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s move to name the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration as the district’s “emergency police commissioner.” The Trump administration agreed on Friday to let Smith remain in charge of her department.

Bondi issued a revised order late Friday directing D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to provide local police assistance for federal immigration enforcement. The order also calls for the mayor to help enforce laws barring homeless people from occupying public spaces.

The Army didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.