National Guard Deployment in Washington Rarely Involved in Crime Cases, Review Finds

An analysis of criminal cases filed in Washington’s Superior Court found that National Guard troops deployed by President Trump were mentioned in only about 1.3% of prosecutions since arriving last August. In several instances, soldiers appeared in records not as those making arrests, but as crime victims themselves.

Costly Deployment With Limited Law Enforcement Role

Roughly 4,500 soldiers are currently stationed in Washington, outnumbering the city’s 3,200 police officers. The Trump administration previously told Congress the deployment cost about $1.65 million daily before troop numbers doubled this summer, compared to the police department’s daily budget of about $1.5 million. Officials plan to continue the deployment through 2029, at a projected total cost of $1.4 billion.

Patrols Concentrated in Wealthier Areas

A review comparing court records to city demographics found soldiers mostly responded to minor incidents in wealthier, whiter neighborhoods, with no documented law enforcement activity found in areas where roughly 82% of the city’s murders occurred over the past five years.

Minor Offenses Dominate Cases Involving Soldiers

Of 217 criminal cases mentioning National Guard involvement, many involved low-level incidents, including thefts of items like pizza slices, beef jerky, and an unpaid soda. Soldiers detained suspects alone in 62 cases and assisted police in 43 others, while acting as witnesses, rather than responders, in 35 additional cases.

Soldiers Have Also Been Targets of Violence

Guard members have themselves been victims in 62 cases involving pushing, punching, or threats, including incidents where individuals spit on soldiers or attempted to grab a weapon. One soldier was killed last year in a shooting near the White House.

Officials Defend the Program Despite Criticism

The White House maintains the deployment has reduced crime and improved quality of life, while D.C.’s mayor has called the program “problematic.” Military experts, including a retired National Guard official, have questioned the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of using soldiers for routine policing duties.