The National Guard has been covering cherry trees for the last few days of summer, collecting trash and cleaning up homeless camps in Washington, D.C. because Donald TrumpThe federal takeover of the capital has evolved the guard from temporary police to armed jacks in all industries.
More than 2,200 soldiers from states, including Mississippi and Louisiana, have been stationed throughout the city since Trump declared a “state of crime emergency” on August 11. However, their responsibilities now include the responsibility of cleaning up the Union Station, and which officials “beautify” projects, including garbage collection, covering around cherry trees in the tidal basin, and potential graffiti.
The crackdown on crime has reportedly won 1,178 arrests and 123 arrests for guns. Updated in the morning From Attorney General Pam Bondi. She added that the troops reportedly helped 84 people arrested and eight guns were confiscated on Tuesday alone.
A White House official told the Guardian that 2,500 National Guard and federal law enforcement were among the 84 arrests, 40 unauthorized persons with no arrest records. The official said an estimated 49 homeless camps have also been broken down since August 7.
But it’s not just policing. The U.S. Department of Transportation has Assumption Management Union Station at Washington’s main rail terminal, citing security issues and infrastructure needs. The armed guards now patrol transit hubs, while the armed guards patrol meetings, a difference that once managed by the state passenger rail service. Amtrak retains control over the passenger area only, while Rebuilding Company handles retail operations.
This week, guard members are authorized to carry M4 rifles and M17 pistols Title 32 Authoritativealthough the crew members responsible for the cleaning work are still unarmed. All service personnel can detain suspects, but cannot arrest them: this is left to the police.
But the sight of soldiers engaging in tasks such as landscaping raises questions about military priorities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth himself, a former National Guard official, repeatedly asked the Pentagon to focus on “fatal, lethal, lethal” and deprived everything from preparing troops to “fighting and winning war.” However, these troops are now spending time covering flower beds and rake leaves.
“I think it’s good, as a DC resident,” a defender member Tell the Washington Post Rake open. “But we can do different things.”
Given the signs of the Trump administration, this could extend similar domestic deployments to local locations, it is the unsettling leaders of other major cities Like Chicagoand the wider militarization of civilian law enforcement.
Shrai Popat contributed the report
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