National Guard’s Stay in D.C. Extended as More States Send Troops Under Trump’s Federal Control

November 3, 2025

The Trump administration has extended the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C. through February 2026, maintaining over 2,300 troops from D.C. and several Republican-led states throughout the city. District officials, including Attorney General Brian Schwalb and Mayor Muriel Bowser, have strongly opposed the presence through a federal lawsuit arguing the deployment violates local self-governance laws and amounts to an illegal military occupation. The administration justifies the extended mission as necessary for security, though D.C. officials counter that violent crime is at record lows and no local assistance was requested.

Who is affected

Washington, D.C. residents (particularly in the predominantly Black city)
Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. government
Attorney General Brian Schwalb
Over 2,300 National Guard members deployed from D.C. and at least seven Republican-led states
Metropolitan Police Department officers
Civil rights advocates and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade members

What action is being taken

More than 2,300 National Guard members are patrolling federal parks, Metro stations, and major streets under Title 32 authority
Attorney General Brian Schwalb has filed a federal lawsuit against the administration
National Guard troops are performing policing duties including detentions and street patrols
Arkansas is deploying 100 additional Guardsmen to D.C. for "security presence patrols"
The Pentagon is conducting "rotational relief" for existing Guard units

Why it matters

This situation represents a fundamental conflict over local self-governance and raises serious constitutional questions about federal authority versus home rule. The deployment strips D.C. of its ability to control its own policing despite having record-low violent crime rates and making no requests for federal assistance. The District's lack of statehood leaves it uniquely vulnerable to presidential overreach, setting a concerning precedent for federal military intervention in local jurisdictions. Civil rights organizations warn the militarized presence threatens residents' safety and enables unchecked law enforcement actions, while the quasi-permanent nature of the deployment suggests long-term implications for D.C. autonomy.

What's next

A court ruling on the District's lawsuit is pending
Plans exist to station "quick reaction forces" in all 50 states
The administration plans to create a specialized military police battalion inside Washington
The Arkansas Guard deployment is expected to last several months
(Note: Even if the court orders suspension, the administration could potentially reissue deployment orders under national security justifications)

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer