National Guard troops were deployed in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday as part of a new public safety initiative directed by the Trump administration. The deployment follows President Donald Trump’s decision on Monday to invoke the District of Columbia’s Home Rule Act, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control for up to 30 days.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser met with federal officials on Tuesday to discuss strategy and coordination for the increased federal law enforcement presence. The mayor stated her focus is on ensuring the effective use of the additional personnel from federal agencies and the National Guard under the leadership of MPD Chief Pamela Smith. Bowser acknowledged that her administration has little choice but to comply with the federal directive.
On Tuesday morning, military vehicles were visible on city streets and troops were seen leaving the D.C. Armory, though the exact number of personnel and their specific assignments have not been disclosed.
The operation’s first day resulted in 23 arrests, according to federal and local authorities. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the charges included homicide, weapons violations, lewd acts, and stalking, adding that six illegal firearms were also seized.
FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the initial results on the social media platform X. “Federal partners joined local police and arrested 23 in total,” he wrote. “When you let good cops be cops they can clean up our streets and do it fast. More to come. Your nation’s Capital WILL be safe again.”
Source link
