WASHINGTON (AP) — More than half of states contributed national guard troops to the president donald trump’s A federal law enforcement initiative in Washington has set a target date for the repeal later this fall, state officials told The Associated Press.
It was not immediately clear when the other three states would withdraw their troops, although dates for late October and November could be extended. But the planned withdrawal suggests that the surge of troops into the capital could be headed for a reduction or a change in scope.
Plans by donor countries announced as President Trump promotes military dispatch To other cities in AmericaThat includes Chicago and Portland, Oregon, each of which has pushed back with legal action to block the deployment.
The National Guard was activated in D.C. in August after President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency, citing concerns about crime. The order placed local police under presidential authority for 30 days, after which it expired. when Congress did not renew it.
However, approximately 2,300 Guard members and hundreds of federal law enforcement officers from eight states as well as Washington, D.C., remained in the city. According to official figures, more than 4,000 people have been arrested as part of the campaign since August.
Officials in Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia all told The Associated Press that they have set dates for the deployments to end. Other states with troops stationed in Washington, D.C., Alabama, Louisiana and South Dakota, did not respond to requests for information.
South Carolina, which originally sent 200 troops and now has about 40 troops, plans to withdraw by the end of October, said Maj. Carla Evans, a spokeswoman for the South Carolina National Guard.
Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi and West Virginia have said they plan to withdraw troops by November 30th.
Together, the five states make up more than 80% of the 1,300 out-of-state troops deployed to D.C. The D.C. National Guard deployment consists of approximately 1,000 troops and its orders have been extended at least until December.
Asked about the planned withdrawal, White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said President Trump’s law enforcement efforts in the nation’s capital have led to a decrease in crime. “These are undeniable positive results that everyone can celebrate.”
President Trump declared his anti-crime campaign in the nation’s capital a huge success. And while crime rates were already declining in the past, data shows that crime has decreased over this period. But the continued presence of the National Guard in Washington, D.C., has raised questions about the ultimate goal of President Trump’s deployment.
Guards have been patrolling transportation hubs and tourist attractions, and as their deployment has dragged on, they have become a fixture of the city’s urban landscape in parks and neighborhoods. Although no incidents of violence were reported, their presence, sometimes armed, was enough to alarm residents. They’re also picking up trash and, in the case of the DC Guard, working to do everything from helping package meals.
News of the planned cuts may come as a relief to some residents who see unprecedented military deployments as increasingly normalized.
“This is not normal,” said Joseph Johnson, a local elected official and chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Committee. “We know this should never have happened in the first place.”
a Lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of Washington, D.C. is objecting to the deployment, and a hearing is scheduled for October 24th.
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office declined to comment. Bowser has said several times that the National Guard sent in from other states is “not an efficient use of resources.”
But some said they tried to take advantage of the deployment because it was unavoidable, especially as members of the D.C. Guard work to clean up neighborhoods, remove graffiti, work with local food banks to package food and help revitalize recreation centers.
“They don’t have guns. They don’t have rifles. And they’re doing exactly what we asked them to do, to come and join us in cleaning up our community,” Johnson said.
Fellow Neighborhood Advisory Commissioner Marcus Hickman welcomed the additional help after the D.C. Guard emailed commissioners asking if they had any needs. This has allowed community members to work hand-in-hand with security guards. Other plans are also in the works, including having the D.C. Guard participate in school reading programs, he said.
“If someone asks you to help them clean their house, there’s something to be said for it. Clean communities are often safer communities.”
