National Guard troops have minimal impact on crime in DC, analysis finds
National Guard troops patrol along Constitution Avenue between the White House and the National Mall in Washington, United States, on August 15, 2026, days after the first anniversary of President Donald Trumpâs deployment of National Guard forces to
President Donald Trump’s deployment of thousands of National Guard troops to Washington, part of his crime-reduction strategy in Democratic-run cities, has become a daily fixture across the capital. But a Reuters review of court documents shows how those troops only play a small role in law enforcement.
Big picture view:
It is not an uncommon sight for many to see soldiers in camouflage stationed around monuments, Metro stops and in tourist corridors. Troop deployment has grown to roughly 4,500 soldiers, outnumbering the city's 3,200 police officers. Since they arrived last summer, National Guard troops have only appeared in about 1.3% of criminal cases filed in D.C.
Superior Court, more often as victims rather than arresting personnel, according to Reuters. In response to crime, Reuters found that soldiers have mostly responded to minor incidents in affluent neighborhoods as opposed to more problematic urban areas. In fact, no court records show national guard activity in areas where 82% of the city’s 859 murders over the past five years.
The backstory:
Trump has described the mission as a "no-holds-barred" strategy to combat crime, arguing that visible military patrols would deter violence and supplement local police. D.C. officials have questioned the approach, saying the deployment blurs jurisdictional lines and places soldiers in roles traditionally handled by civilian law enforcement.
Timeline:
The troop deployment began last August, when Trump ordered thousands of Guard members into Washington. Soldiers expanded daily patrols through fall and winter, concentrating on tourist areas and federal landmarks.
‘Presence patrols’ to deter crime
The Reuters report does have just over 200 cases where police mentioned National Guard involvement. In 62 of those cases, soldiers have single-handedly stopped criminals in the process of various small crimes like shoplifting, jumping turnstiles and enforcing curfew.
Dig deeper:
Part of the problem with National Guard troops acting as law enforcement officers is the fact that they have limited law-enforcement power, according to government records. The Department of Defense categorizes their work as "presence patrols" or a show of force to deter crime. Additionally, without legal authority to make an arrest, they can only detain suspects but must call police for the formal arrest.
What's next:
The estimated daily cost of the mission is estimated at $1.65 million. With troop levels doubling and the White House planning on keeping soldiers in the city through the end of Trump’s presidency in 2029, the projected cost could range as high as $1.4 billion.
The Source: This story was written with information provided by Reuters. This story was reported from Orlando.