West Virginia to deploy National Guard troops to DC

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is deploying 300 to 400 National Guard troops to the District of Columbia at the request of the Trump administration, the governor's office said on Saturday.

The deployment is "a show of commitment to public safety and regional cooperation" and will include providing equipment and specialized training alongside the "approximately 300-400 skilled personnel as directed", Morrisey's office said in a statement.

Drew Galang, a spokesperson for Morrisey, said the state's National Guard received the order to send equipment and personnel to DC late on Friday and was working to organize the deployment.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he was deploying hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington and temporarily taking over the city's police department to curb what he depicted as a crime and homelessness emergency in the nation's capital.

A White House official said on Saturday that more National Guard troops would be called in to Washington to "protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime."

A US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a formal order was expected to go out that would authorize National Guard troops in D.C. to carry firearms. The official said this order would affect mostly military police officers with sidearms.

Reuters has previously reported that the National Guard troops would have weapons nearby, such as in their vehicles.

The White House said on Saturday that DC National Guard members have conducted patrols on foot and in vehicles around the National Mall and Union Station.

The White House said the National Guard troops are not making arrests at this time, and that they may be armed.

Negotiated Deal

According to US Justice Department data, violent crime in 2024 hit a 30-year low in Washington, technically a self-governing federal district under the jurisdiction of the US Congress.

District of Columbia officials and the Trump administration negotiated a deal on Friday to keep DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointed police chief, Pamela Smith, in charge of the police department after DC. Attorney General Brian Schwalb filed a lawsuit to block the federal takeover of the department