Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Washington Troops Seldom Stop Crime, Reuters Review Finds
President Donald Trump sent thousands of National Guard soldiers to patrol Washington.
The soldiers walk around places such as subway stations, monuments and a baseball park.
A Reuters review found that they were involved in only a small share of the city’s criminal cases.
They sometimes stopped fights or helped police, but many incidents involved small crimes such as shoplifting or fare evasion.
Soldiers were usually seen in safer and wealthier parts of the city.
The review found little evidence that they helped in neighborhoods where most murders occurred.
Supporters say seeing soldiers can discourage crime.
Critics say soldiers are expensive and are not trained mainly to be everyday police officers.
The deployment is planned to continue during Trump’s presidency.
About 4,500 National Guard soldiers currently patrol Washington, exceeding the city’s roughly 3,200 police officers.
Reuters found National Guard involvement in 217 criminal cases, just 1.3% of Superior Court criminal filings since the deployment began.
Soldiers most often handled minor incidents or assisted police in wealthier, safer neighborhoods rather than areas with the most murders.
The deployment costs about $1.65 million daily and could continue through 2029 at an estimated total cost of $1.4 billion.
Supporters say the troops deter crime, while critics question their effectiveness, cost, training and deployment on civilian streets.
- Who
- President Donald Trump ordered National Guard soldiers to patrol Washington, alongside local police and additional federal agents.
- What
- The deployment uses thousands of soldiers for visible patrols and limited civilian law-enforcement duties, but a Reuters review found little involvement in criminal cases.
- When
- The soldiers arrived in August of the reported deployment year; the administration plans to continue the mission through 2029.
- Where
- Washington, D.C., including tourist areas, monuments, subway stations, neighborhoods and the area around the city’s baseball park.
- Why
- The Trump administration says the deployment is intended to combat and deter crime and improve quality of life.
Critics and Local Concerns
Administration and Supporters
Effectiveness in fighting crime
Critics and Local Concerns
Reuters found soldiers were involved in only a small share of criminal cases and mostly handled minor incidents, with little evidence of activity in neighborhoods where most murders occurred.
Administration and Supporters
Supporters argue that a visible military presence deters crime. Charles Stimson of the Heritage Foundation said crime would rise if the National Guard suddenly left Washington.
Role and training
Critics and Local Concerns
Critics, including retired General Randy Manner, say armed soldiers are ill-prepared for routine police work and should not be used for everyday law enforcement on American streets.
Administration and Supporters
The Defense Department describes the mission as presence patrols designed to show force and deter crime; soldiers can detain suspects before police make formal arrests.
Cost and public safety
Critics and Local Concerns
Critics question the deployment’s cost and whether soldiers make residents safer. Some residents said troops were more likely to harass people or create fear than perform police work.
Administration and Supporters
The Trump administration says its broader Washington effort has reduced crime, beautified the city and improved quality of life.
- Current troop deployment
- About 4,500 National Guard soldiers are currently deployed in Washington.
- Local police comparison
- The soldiers outnumber Washington’s approximately 3,200 police officers.
- Criminal cases reviewed
- Reuters found 217 cases mentioning National Guard involvement.
- Share of court cases
- The soldiers were mentioned in about 1.3% of criminal cases filed in the District’s Superior Court since their arrival.
- Deployment cost
- The administration told Congress the mission cost about $1.65 million per day before the troop count was doubled this summer.
- Planned duration
- The administration has said it plans to continue sending soldiers through the end of Donald Trump’s presidency in 2029.
- Violent crime trend
- Murders fell for a third consecutive year, while violent crimes reported from January through mid-August were about 4% higher than the previous year.