West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced that he is sending hundreds of National Guard troops from his state to Washington, D.C., to assist with President Donald Trump’s crackdown on violent crime in the capital.
Trump has been targeting crime in Washington over the past week, deploying 800 D.C. National Guard troops as well as taking control of D.C. police for 30 days. Part of the latter order was scaled back on Friday, with D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith largely resuming control of the department as opposed to DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, who the Trump administration sought to install as an emergency police commissioner.
Despite the setback, the National Guard and federal officers including from the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations have continued to patrol the streets, and as of Saturday, more are set to join them.
Anywhere from 300 to 400 West Virginia National Guard troops are set to be deployed to Washington in support of Trump’s mission to address violent crime, with responsibilities including “providing mission-essential equipment and specialized training,” Morrisey said in a news release on Saturday afternoon.
“West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” the West Virginia governor said. “The men and women of our National Guard represent the best of our state, and this mission reflects our shared commitment to a strong and secure America.”
The increased troop presence comes as the National Guard has been restricted in its enforcement capabilities.
Troops currently in Washington have assisted with enforcement operations, but are currently not making arrests and are unarmed.
New reporting over the weekend indicates that may be changing, however.
A Wall Street Journal report on Saturday revealed that National Guard troops are being told to expect an order to carry weapons, citing people familiar with the matter.
ONE IN THREE DC ARRESTS THIS WEEK WERE IMMIGRATION-RELATED
That would appear to go against a previous statement from the U.S. Army late this week, which said weapons would “remain in the armory” and are only available “if needed.”
An official from the Defense Department told the outlet that as of Saturday afternoon, such an order has yet to be given.
