What’s Behind the Latest National Guard Surge in D.C.
The number of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. has increased to over 5,000 as part of a federal initiative to address urban issues. Critics argue the deployment is a political symbol rather than a response to actual crime trends, which were at historic lows when the mission began.
Why it matters
The ongoing presence of federal troops in the nation's capital raises significant questions about the balance of power between federal and local authority and the militarization of domestic policy.
The number of National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., has jumped in recent weeks.
Samuel Corum / Sipa USA / Reuters July 10, 2026, 5:56 PM ET Share Save This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.
Donald Trump summoned the National Guard to Washington, D.C., last August in an attempt to “rescue” the city from “crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.” Since then, the number of soldiers in the capital has ebbed and flowed as states have lent their own Guardsmen to the cause. A month ago, there were just under 3,000 members of the National Guard in the area; now there are more than 5,000.
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