President Donald Trump’s deployment of the Washington, D.C. National Guard has been extended to November 30, according to U.S. officials. The decision comes as crime rates in the capital have dropped nearly to zero, with the additional time framed as necessary to complete Trump’s stated goal of restoring the city to its former state.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll approved the extension on Wednesday, allowing Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, the commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, to adjust initial orders. The plan involves approximately 950 members of the D.C. National Guard, though it does not apply to the 1,300 troops from other states deployed in the area. Those out-of-state forces remain under their respective governors’ control, with many scheduled to stay until year’s end.
The announcement coincided with a lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who accused the Trump administration of violating the Posse Comitatus Act by using military personnel for domestic law enforcement. A federal judge previously ruled that Trump’s June deployment of Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles violated the 19th-century law, though the White House has appealed the decision.
In a video message to his troops, Blanchard emphasized the mission’s ongoing nature, stating, “Our mission is not complete” as he praised the National Guard’s professionalism and dedication. He reiterated the commitment to ensuring public safety in D.C. through November 30.
