The Pentagon confirmed that National Guard troops in D.C. will now carry firearms, escalating Trump's law enforcement crackdown. This follows his executive order to take over the city's police, sparking protests and legal challenges.
The Secretary of Defense has ordered the National Guards trooping the streets of DC for President Donald Trump’s law enforcement crackdown to start carrying firearms, confirmed the Pentagon on Friday.However, the Department of Defense hasn't briefed about any such novel development that necessitated the recent order.
This recent development has been speculated as an escalation in Trump's intervention in Washington's policing. The total crackdown came after he had signed an executive order on 11th August mandating the complete takeover of D.C.'s police department for the next 30 days. An alphabet soup of federal agencies have been called in since then who are now stationed in major neighbourhoods of Washington. While the areas around the national mall continue to remain their stronghold, the fear and apprehension is ricocheting abound in Columbia heights as well, which has historically remained a diverse neighbourhood housing the city's largest Latino population.
Earlier this week a top federal prosecutor of DC opened investigation against the local police, attempting to hold it accountable for falsifying crime data, this claim in turn has further bolstered Trump's recent move. National Guards , called in from Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia and South Carolina have been deployed in multiple sensitive zones across D.C., as confirmed by the Joint Task Force District of Columbia to assist in the crackdown. They would be performing similar duties to D.C. Guard members already on street.
It is clear from Trump's remarks and actions that he is attempting to tighten up the pressure on Washington's local administration as he has already requested the Republican-led states to send 1100 more troops in addition to the 800 already stationed there. This move has sparked widespread outrage and protest both on streets and in the Congress. On Democratic Rep. Sam Liccardo of California introduced a bill which mandates the outlining of a detailed report to on the expenditures associated with the deployment of National Guards unrelated to a natural disaster and their interaction with civilian population. Through this bill, he highlighted the resultant economic implications and questioned the legal and humanitarian basis of such an exceptional deployment.
It is important to note that no such overt altercation has been witnessed till now involving the guards and the general populous. The guards are primarily protecting the national landmarks around the national mall and union station and helping with crowd control. Some of the guards have been seen feeding squirrels and helping aged pedestrians with their luggage. Trump has boasted that the city is safer than ever now. Briefing the press on Friday, he exclaimed that is a miracle what has happened. He further indicated his interest in extending the deployment in DC.
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