Trump expected to authorize firepower as more National Guard troops arrive in DC

Republican governors have committed to helping President Donald Trump combat crime in the nation’s capital, and the number of National Guard troops is expected to double in Washington, D.C.

“Crime is out of control there, and it’s clear something must be done to combat it,” Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday in a statement as he committed to sending guard members to D.C. along with similar actions from Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia.

I’ve approved the deployment of approximately 200 Mississippi National Guard Soldiers to Washington, D.C., to support President Trump’s effort to return law and order to our nation’s capital.

Crime is out of control there, and it’s clear something must be done to combat it.…

— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) August 18, 2025

“The roughly 800 D.C. National Guard troops already deployed in the capital will be joined by about 200 personnel from Mississippi, between 300 and 400 from West Virginia, 150 from Ohio and 200 from South Carolina,” according to The Hill.

“Officials said Guard personnel are not arresting people, only helping to detain individuals briefly if necessary before handing them off to law enforcement. Under the law, troops are allowed to protect federal property and personnel. They also can defend themselves, but must leave law enforcement duties to the local police,” CBS News reported. “Guard personnel deployed in Washington are currently unarmed, although officials say they expect that to change as more troops arrive.”

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster confirmed his state will be joining the”mission to restore law and order to our nation’s capital.”

I’ve authorized the deployment of 200 S.C. National Guardsmen to support President Trump in his mission to restore law and order to our nation’s capital. The federal government will pay for this deployment under Title 32. Our National Guard will work to assist President Trump’s…

— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) August 16, 2025

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also acknowledged that troops from his state will join the “mission to restore law and order to our nation’s capital,” noting that the federal government would pay for the deployment.

I’ve authorized the deployment of 200 S.C. National Guardsmen to support President Trump in his mission to restore law and order to our nation’s capital. The federal government will pay for this deployment under Title 32. Our National Guard will work to assist President Trump’s…

— Gov. Henry McMaster (@henrymcmaster) August 16, 2025

Despite Democrats and other critics denying the need for the crackdown and claiming crime rates have decreased in the D.C., the administration has maintained otherwise.

MAKE D.C. SAFE AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/TdB8qDKcHh

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 19, 2025

Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in an X post on Monday that there were 137 arrests in Washington, D.C. over the weekend.

FBI Director Kash Patel also posted about the weekend’s numbers.

21 more FBI arrests in Washington DC last night August 18-19:

-4 gun recoveries
-6 drug seizures
-Charges including Felony assault, Larceny, Drug offenses, Assault on officer, and more

Federal partners have arrested over 450 individuals since this operation began.

The work…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) August 19, 2025

Senior Staff Writer
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.

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