Republican Governors Send Troops to Washington, DC in Support of Trump’s Security Push

Governors from six Republican-led states are deploying more than 1,100 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, backing United States President Donald Trump’s plan to increase the military and federal presence in the capital.

The move follows the Trump administration’s order for federal prosecutors in DC to adopt a tougher stance on criminal cases as part of a broader crackdown on violent crime.

On Monday, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced he was sending about 135 Guard soldiers to the capital. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves confirmed the deployment of 200 soldiers, while Tennessee Governor Bill Lee approved the dispatch of 160 troops.

Days earlier, West Virginia pledged 300–400 troops, South Carolina committed 200, and Ohio promised 150.

On August 11, Trump announced a temporary federal takeover of the DC police force, deploying 800 federal DC National Guard members and agents from agencies including the FBI. While city officials challenged the decision, the administration reached an agreement with Mayor Muriel Bowser to keep Police Chief Pamela Smith in operational control.

Governor Landry defended the move on X, writing

“We cannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence and lawlessness. I am proud to support this mission to return safety and sanity to Washington, DC and cities all across our country, including right here in Louisiana.”

Trump has cited rising violence to justify the deployments. However, city data shows crime in Washington fell 30 percent between 2023 and 2024, and the downward trend has continued.