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2h ago

Vance Hails D.C. Troop Surge as Justice Department Probes Crime Data

The crackdown now leans on aggressive charging policies, with plans to arm Guard units still unsettled.

Image
District of Columbia National Guard soldiers patrol on the National Mall, Thursday, August 14, 2025, in Washington. The U.S. Capitol is seen in the distance. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Pedestrians pass an MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles) combat vehicle deployed by the Washington DC National Guard outside Union Station on August 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Members of the Drug Enforcement Agency and Police patrol the Lincoln Memorial on August 15, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Overview

  • Several hundred federal agents and roughly 1,700–1,900 Guard troops are on patrol in Washington, including more than 1,100 sent by six Republican-led states, with deployments often concentrated downtown and at tourist hubs.
  • The Justice Department has opened an investigation into possible manipulation of D.C. crime statistics as the White House challenges city data showing sharp declines since 2023.
  • Following a city lawsuit, Police Chief Pamela Smith remains in operational command of MPD under a negotiated arrangement that preserves federal oversight of the broader operation.
  • The administration reports more than 550 arrests since Aug. 7 and over 70 guns seized, though the daily arrest pace trails MPD’s 2024 average and many cases involve immigration enforcement.
  • Federal prosecutors were directed to seek the highest charges supported by law and to stop pursuing cases under D.C.’s rifle and shotgun carry ban; Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Stephen Miller visited Guard troops as protests continued and polling showed strong local opposition to federalizing MPD.