Why is the National Guard in D.C., and what are troops allowed to do?

National Guard troops began filing into Washington early Tuesday as part of President Donald Trump’s sweeping crackdown on crime in the city.

The National Guard is a reserve force of the U.S. military that is typically deployed by states in response to natural disasters, although it has been used in the past by presidents to help quell domestic unrest - including President George H.W. Bush during the Los Angeles riots in 1992.

During his first term in office, Trump called National Guard troops onto D.C.’s streets and sent military helicopters flying overhead during the George Floyd protests in 2020. In June, he ordered 2,000 California National Guard troops to L.A. to intervene in protests against his administration’s immigration raids - against the wishes of California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom.

Here’s what to know about the deployment of National Guard troops to D.C. and what they’re allowed to do.

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Why is the National Guard in D.C.?

Trump announced Monday he would deploy some 800 National Guard troops to help officers patrol D.C.’s streets. He has described crime in the District as “out of control,” and the city as ridden with “thugs” and “gang members,” despite data showing crime is declining from pandemic-era spikes in D.C. and nationwide. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has challenged Trump’s assertions, noting the recent drops in crime.

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What will the National Guard do?

During a White House news conference on Monday, the president said that Guard troops would work to clear homeless encampments, adding that they would “bring in military” if needed.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a Fox News interview Monday that the troops will not get involved in law enforcement, despite having “broad latitude.” An Army spokesman said Guard troops will mostly provide administrative and logistical support for police, but in some instances they will be stationed at intersections to deter crime, The Post reported.

An Army official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, told The Post that all of the roughly 800 Guard members will be armed, with the initial plan being to serve in rotational shifts of about 200 members each.

Can the National Guard arrest people?

Yes. Title 32 allows National Guard troops to conduct arrests, though Hegseth and others have said that, in this case, they will not be performing any police functions. Hegseth said, however, that National Guard troops would be “proactive” and could “temporarily detain” crime suspects if they see something illegal happening, until police arrive.

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How long will the National Guard be in D.C.?

In Monday’s memorandum, Trump said troops “will remain mobilized until law and order is restored,” without specifying other conditions.

The National Guard deployment could last longer. About 250 troops remained in L.A. at the end of last month, weeks after thousands were ordered there.

Asked how long the deployment in Washington would be, Hegseth said: “I don’t know. Weeks? Months? What will it take?” he added. “That’s the president’s call.”

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What happened in L.A. when troops were called in?

Trump dispatched more than 1,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June despite Newsom’s repeated assertions that they were not needed.