West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey directed the mobilization of 300 to 400 members of the National Guard to Washington, DC, following a request from President Donald Trump's administration, officials confirmed Saturday. It is part of a wider federal effort to augment law enforcement in the capital in the interest of public safety and inter-regional cooperation.
In his announcement, Morrisey stated, "West Virginia is pleased to stand beside President Trump in his mission to make America's capital a place of pride and beauty once again". The members of the Guard will contribute expert training and gear to supplement an already established large federal presence in the city.
Earlier this week, President Trump deployed 800 DC National Guard troops and declared emergency powers under the Home Rule Act to take temporary control of the Metropolitan Police Department a power play that created legal controversy with city officials.
Although Trump's characterization of DC as beset by crime, data paints a different picture: violent crime fell close to 35% in 2024, with ongoing declines through mid-2025. Experts and local authorities state that the city is fairly secure, with interventions viewed as being out of proportion and politically driven.
During the military mobilization, federal authorities at Homeland Security and US Marshals have in the meantime ramped up their high-profile presence at strategic points such as Union Station and the National Mall. West Virginia troops will augment those efforts but are not involved directly in making arrests.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Brian Schwalb pushed back against the overreach, filing lawsuits to stop federal overreach and maintain local police power. Bowser spoke of solidarity during the tension: "If we stand together, we will show the country what it means to fight for democracy without full autonomy.".
Simultaneously, demonstrations have erupted, especially outside Dupont Circle, where citizens were alarmed at the "military occupation" of their thoroughfares. Others felt the city was being unfairly represented, pointing to crime data that indicate a general downtrend.
This extremely public deployment and judicial showdown are creating a precedent for presidential power to be wielded in a federal district. A decision in a similar court case regarding Trump's deployment of National Guard to Los Angeles without go-ahead from the full-time governor is due soon, possibly affecting the result in DC.
As the weekend progresses, West Virginia's mobilization of troops raises the stakes: national unity and federal power versus local government and citizen resistance.
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