National Guard in the capital: West Virginia sends national guards to Washington

The US state of West Virginia wants to send hundreds of national guards to the capital and support the commitment ordered by President Donald Trump in Washington. At the request of the US government, he would send 300 to 400 national guards, West Virginia’s republican governor Patrick Morrisey said. U.S. media reported, citing government circles, with the additional soldiers the troop contingent announced on Monday should be increased by 800 national guards.

According to Morrisey, the emergency services from his state should help to “restore” the “cleanliness and security” in the capital. Trump had justified the commitment of the national guard with supposedly sprawling crime in Washington and also spoke of an increasing neglect of public space – although the official crime statistics did not confirm his claim. According to critics, the procedure of the US government should rather aim to demonstratively show strength and thus distract from domestic political problems.

According to the “Wall Street Journal” newspaper, the additional units could also have weapons – that would be a novelty, because the previous soldiers should patroll unarmed according to the report. A few days ago, the US military had emphasized that the forces used in Washington were “equipped with personal protective equipment, including body armor”. With regard to a possible use of weapons, it said: “weapons are available if necessary, but remain in the arms chamber.”

Alleged crime and homeless reason for escalation

Trump had decree on Monday that the police in the Washington capital, Minister of Justice Pam Bondi were initially subordinate to the Washington. In turn, this transferred the head of the US drug fighting authority DEA, Terry Cole, the police leadership. In the course of his controversial decree, Trump also ordered the troops of the National Guard to Washington.

Trump bases his decree on a law called “Home Rule Act”, which the police in Washington puts under Federal Command in the emergency. According to the general prosecutor of the Federal District, Brian Schwalb, the law only gives the US President Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser how the enforcement authorities should be deployed.

Trump’s focus – and thus the law enforcement authorities – mainly migrants who may be in the country without a residence permit, as well as homeless people on the streets and squares of the city.

National guard not on the road in Washington for the first time

The national guard belonging to the US army was often active in the capital. The states usually have control over this military reserve unit. In special locations – for example in the case of natural disasters, unrest and emergencies inside – the president can put them under federal command. In the special case of the US capital, which is not a separate state, the national guard is directly subject to the president.