National Guard to carry weapons in D.C. as West Virginia sends troops at Trump's request
Some troops were told to expect an order to start carrying weapons late Friday, though no official order had come as of Saturday morning, The Wall Street Journal reports. This comes after the U.S. Army said in a statement that 'weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory.'
President Donald Trump mobilized about 800 members of the D.C. National Guard in the nation's capital this week. As of Thursday, about 200 troops were on the streets of D.C., the Defense Department said. Now, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey is set to send additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., at the request of the Trump administration
The West Virginia National Guard will provide 'mission-essential equipment, specialized training, and approximately 300-400 skilled personnel as directed,' according to a Saturday statement from Morrisey's office. The mission, which will be 'funded at the federal level,' is a show of 'commitment to public safety and regional cooperation,' the statement adds.
More states could follow in West Virginia's footsteps.
A White House official told The Independent that the National Guard's role has not changed, and 'additional National Guard troops will be called in to Washington DC.'
'The National Guard will protect federal assets, create a safe environment for law enforcement officials to carry out their duties when required, and provide a visible presence to deter crime,' the official said.
D.C. National Guard spokesman Capt. Tinashe Machona told The Washington Post that other states want to participate in the mission, but he couldn't provide a specific number.
The Independent has contacted the Washington, D.C. National Guard for comment.
Trump claimed he mobilized troops and federalized D.C. police in response to 'out of control' crime that was getting worse. However, data shows that violent crime in Washington, D.C. has been decreasing since 2023. Violent crime in D.C. even hit its lowest point in more than 30 years in 2024, according to the Justice Department.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called Trump's takeover of the police force an 'authoritarian push' on Tuesday.
Trump threatened a D.C. takeover earlier this month after Edward Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer, was assaulted in an attempted carjacking. Coristine, 19, is better known by his online nickname 'Big Balls.'
'I have to say that somebody from DOGE was very badly hurt…a young man who was beat up by a bunch of thugs in DC, and either they're gonna straighten their act out in the terms of government and in terms of protection or we're gonna have to federalize and run it the way it's supposed to be run,' Trump said on August 5.
Trump also said he was placing the D.C. police under federal control this week. The Justice Department then attempted to name DEA Administrator Terry Cole as the Metropolitan Police Department's 'emergency police commissioner.' D.C. sued in a response, challenging the administration's appointment of Cole and its attempts to assert control over the department.
Following an emergency court hearing on Friday, the Trump administration walked back its order, allowing the D.C. government and current police chief Pamela Smith to retain control over the department.
Attorney General Pam Bondi instead named Cole her 'designee.'
'I have just issued a new directive to Mayor Bowser requiring MPD to provide the services found necessary by my designee, @DEAHQ Administrator Terry Cole, to comply fully and completely with federal immigration law and authorities, regardless of any policies MPD might otherwise have,' Bondi wrote on X.
'Unfortunately, the DC Attorney General continues to oppose our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, DC,' she added.
D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb celebrated the judge's decision on Friday.
'The outcome of today's hearing is a win for Home Rule and upholds the District's right to operate its own local police force,' he wrote on X. 'The Court recognized that it was clearly unlawful for the Administration to try to seize control of the Metropolitan Police Department. Chief Smith and @MayorBowser rightfully remain in command of MPD.'
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The National
2 hours ago
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Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Population explodes in beautiful red state military town that can't keep up with the demand for new homes
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But out of the 80 homes I sold in the past year, only about three had bidding wars.' Some parts of the city remain hotter than others. 'The Sango area in the south is the most competitive,' Forte said. 'It's closer to Nashville, has a strong school district, and that combination is always going to drive demand.' However, Forte doesn't believe the real shortage is in housing stock. 'They're building as fast as they possibly can,' he said. 'The bigger issue is infrastructure. This was mostly farmland 10 years ago, and the public systems just aren't built to handle this kind of population growth so quickly.' Although the boom has brought new businesses and job opportunities, it has also fueled concerns about traffic congestion, rezoning battles, and environmental impacts in a city where Victorian-era streets and landmarks now sit in the shadow of sprawling new subdivisions. McLaughlin said younger residents and first-time buyers are especially hard-hit, with many unable to qualify for mortgages and a shortage of smaller 'starter' homes in the market. She warned that building quickly without careful planning could worsen traffic congestion, strain public services, and erode the character of historic neighborhoods. 'If the housing shortage persists, the most pressing concerns would be an increase in the number of cost-burdened residents, particularly those in lower- and middle-income brackets,' she said. 'That could lead to the departure of essential workers and drive prices even higher,' she added. Patrick Bowen, president of Bowen National Research, led the assessment that laid bare Clarksville's housing shortage - and its wider economic consequences. 'Whether it's rental or for-sale housing, there's not much available,' Bowen told local FOX affiliate WZTV Nashville. 'And what you do have is really not affordable for many low- to moderate-income households.' He warned that rising housing costs don't just hit residents - they ripple through the local economy. 'When you've got people spending exorbitant amounts on housing, that's less money going back into the local economy. It has an impact on employers, too; the workforce can't afford to stay in the market, or afford the rent they're paying.' Bowen says the newly compiled data can help Clarksville plan smarter: 'Now you have data to look to, so when you're setting priorities and goals, you have something that gives you structure, to say, we need to focus on this type of housing or this population.' He also stressed that rushing development could make matters worse. 'Yes, housing is needed quickly, but that doesn't mean it should be rushed. You want to make sure you're building the right kind of housing, in the right places, with the right infrastructure in place.' And the solution, he says, requires more than just City Hall.
