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Economic Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
National Guard deployed in Washington DC amid capital crime crackdown: What is it and who can join them?
Synopsis President Trump announced a significant escalation of law enforcement in Washington D.C., deploying the National Guard and placing the city's police under federal control. This action follows a surge in federal law enforcement prompted by high crime rates, including a recent attack on a former government staffer. The move grants the president direct control over the D.C. NYT News Service The president has direct control over DC's National Guard, unlike every other unit, which is under the authority of state governors President Donald Trump Monday announced a historic escalation of law enforcement in Washington DC, deploying both the National Guard to patrol the streets and placing the city's police department under federal control. The move comes after Trump ordered a seven-day surge in federal law enforcement within the city last week, pointing to several high-profile crimes.'We're going to clean it up real quick,' Trump told reporters at the White House, noting the high crime rate in the city and the recent attack of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer by 10 teens Aug. 3.'It's becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness, and we get rid of the slums too,' Trump went on. ALSO READ: Trump deploys National Guard in Washington DC, places it under direct federal control The National Guard is part of the US Armed Forces Reserve, and consists of two branches: The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. It was formed in 1903 by the Militia Act. US federal law determines the current structure of the National National Guard has a broad range of responsibilities, from assisting in domestic emergencies to supporting military missions overseas. It is frequently called upon for disaster relief — most recently in January 2025, when its units were deployed to battle the catastrophic forest fires in California. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina struck, more than 50,000 members were sent to New Orleans to aid evacuations, conduct rescues, and help restore order. Beyond disaster response, the Guard also plays a key role in maintaining internal security. Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, over 25,000 National Guard troops were stationed across Washington, D.C., to safeguard the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Similarly, during the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020, thousands of troops were mobilized in multiple states to reinforce local law Guard's mission extends far beyond U.S. borders as well. Its personnel have supported combat and peacekeeping operations overseas, including deployments to the wars in Iraq and READ: Can Trump invoke a federal takeover of Washington DC? Legal hurdles stand in US President's way The president has direct control over DC's National Guard, unlike every other unit, which is under the authority of state governors. Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, Trump has the authority to use the DC Metropolitan Police Department for federal purposes for 30 to DW, when reservists are deployed inside the US states, the governor of the state in question usually assumes command. When deployed nationwide, the US president is the commander-in-chief. In principle, all US citizens are eligible to join the National Guard. However, they must meet certain physical, mental and legal requirements. Most National Guard members serve in the units on a part-time basis, but there is also a minority of full-time soldiers. ALSO READ: Trump to hold presser after ordering homeless to leave Washington DC as federal takeover threat looms Soldiers who have completed military service in the army can apply to serve in the National Guard. They usually do not require any further option is voluntary enlistment for exclusive service in the National Guard without serving in active units. In this case, training is completed at a military duties of a National Guard member include one weekend per month and two weeks per year. National Guard members receive between $200 and $600 (€175-€525) for weekend duty, depending on their rank. They also have allowances for accommodation and meals, education assistance and health insurance. Pension entitlements can also be claimed for longer periods of service.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
National Guard deployed in Washington DC amid capital crime crackdown: What is it and who can join them?
President Donald Trump Monday announced a historic escalation of law enforcement in Washington DC, deploying both the National Guard to patrol the streets and placing the city's police department under federal control. The move comes after Trump ordered a seven-day surge in federal law enforcement within the city last week, pointing to several high-profile crimes. 'We're going to clean it up real quick,' Trump told reporters at the White House, noting the high crime rate in the city and the recent attack of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer by 10 teens Aug. 3. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program 'It's becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness, and we get rid of the slums too,' Trump went on. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What If Your Neck Is Causing Your Ear Ringing? Tinnitus Experts Undo ALSO READ: Trump deploys National Guard in Washington DC, places it under direct federal control What is US National Guard and how is it deployed? The National Guard is part of the US Armed Forces Reserve, and consists of two branches: The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. It was formed in 1903 by the Militia Act. US federal law determines the current structure of the National Guard. The National Guard has a broad range of responsibilities, from assisting in domestic emergencies to supporting military missions overseas. It is frequently called upon for disaster relief — most recently in January 2025, when its units were deployed to battle the catastrophic forest fires in California. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina struck, more than 50,000 members were sent to New Orleans to aid evacuations, conduct rescues, and help restore order. Live Events Beyond disaster response, the Guard also plays a key role in maintaining internal security. Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, over 25,000 National Guard troops were stationed across Washington, D.C., to safeguard the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Similarly, during the nationwide protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020, thousands of troops were mobilized in multiple states to reinforce local law enforcement. The Guard's mission extends far beyond U.S. borders as well. Its personnel have supported combat and peacekeeping operations overseas, including deployments to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. ALSO READ: Can Trump invoke a federal takeover of Washington DC? Legal hurdles stand in US President's way Who has control over National Guard? The president has direct control over DC's National Guard, unlike every other unit, which is under the authority of state governors. Under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, Trump has the authority to use the DC Metropolitan Police Department for federal purposes for 30 days. According to DW, when reservists are deployed inside the US states, the governor of the state in question usually assumes command. When deployed nationwide, the US president is the commander-in-chief. Who can join the National Guard? In principle, all US citizens are eligible to join the National Guard. However, they must meet certain physical, mental and legal requirements. Most National Guard members serve in the units on a part-time basis, but there is also a minority of full-time soldiers. ALSO READ: Trump to hold presser after ordering homeless to leave Washington DC as federal takeover threat looms Soldiers who have completed military service in the army can apply to serve in the National Guard. They usually do not require any further training. Another option is voluntary enlistment for exclusive service in the National Guard without serving in active units. In this case, training is completed at a military facility. Typical duties of a National Guard member include one weekend per month and two weeks per year. National Guard members receive between $200 and $600 (€175-€525) for weekend duty, depending on their rank. They also have allowances for accommodation and meals, education assistance and health insurance. Pension entitlements can also be claimed for longer periods of service.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The history of presidents activating US troops on American soil
Thirty-three years after the National Guard was first called to enter Los Angeles, its members are once again back in The City of Angels — this time under different circumstances. Codified in the 1903 Militia Act and the National Defense Act of 1916, the 54 National Guard units of today are a part-time reserve force that serve either the state or federal governments in times of emergency or war. Since then, the vast majority of the Guard's domestic deployments have been to keep the peace during civil unrest or provide assistance during natural disasters. Presidents have rarely federalized the National Guard to intervene in protests on U.S. soil, but since the latter half of the 20th century there has been an upward tick in their utility. According to The Washington Post, 'State officials have a range of tools available to them to deal with civil disturbance, including local, state and federal law enforcement, or even federal troops. They rarely request the National Guard's assistance — and federal officials doing so is even more uncommon.' In 1992, at the request of California's Republican governor, Pete Wilson, and the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, President George H.W. Bush ordered thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles to quell one of the city's worst riots following the arrest and beating of Rodney King. Dozens of people were killed, and more than 1,500 people were injured as tensions over the acquittal of the police officers who beat King boiled over. An estimated $500 million in property damages further racked the city. President Donald Trump's ordering of 2,000 California National Guard troops to enter the city this month differs from 1992 event, however. The California National Guard was ordered to deploy to Los Angeles to intervene against the growing discontent and protests against the Trump administration's immigration policies and raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump's order was in direct contravention to California Gov. Gavin Newsom's wishes. Lawmakers condemn Trump's use of Guard, active-duty troops in LA Instead of invoking the Insurrection Act, which Bush used in 1992, Trump used Section 12406 of Title 10 of the U.S. Code. The provision allows for the federal government to utilize the National Guard in the event that there is 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States; or the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.' Newsom pushed back on these claims. On June 8, Newsom shared on X a letter he addressed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in which he 'formally requested the Trump Administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command. We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California.' Trump's order is the first time a president has called upon the National Guard without a governor's consent in over six decades. In 2006, President George W. Bush considered federalizing the Louisiana National Guard in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina but abandoned such plans after Kathleen Blanco, the state's Democratic governor, opposed it. 'There is not a governor in this country, four territories, or the mayor of Washington, D.C., who would give up control of the National Guard,' Blanco later told a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. 'You absolutely have to have the law enforcement capacity of the Guard in these circumstances.' Newsom sued Trump and Hegseth on June 9, claiming the act surpassed the authority of the federal government and violated the Tenth Amendment. 'Let me be clear,' California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a statement that same day. 'There is no rebellion. The President is trying to manufacture chaos and crisis on the ground for his own political ends.' In an interview with CNN, the city's mayor, Karen Bass, doubled down, stating, 'This is not citywide civil unrest taking place in Los Angeles. A few streets downtown — it looks horrible.' She added that those found to be committing acts of vandalism would be arrested and prosecuted. Appeals court rules Trump can deploy National Guard to LA for now Since the Civil War, there have been several significant instances when the National Guard was called upon to restore order, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously deploying troops to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 after the integration of an all-white Central High School. President John F. Kennedy activated the Mississippi National Guard in 1962 to enforce the integration of the University of Mississippi, and he did so once again in 1963 against the wishes of Alabama Gov. George Wallace to integrate the University of Alabama. In 1965, the federal government, then led by President Lyndon B. Johnson, went against the wishes of Wallace a second time and called upon the National Guard to restore order after peaceful civil rights activists were brutally attacked by Alabama State Troopers outside of Selma. Guard members were called upon during the 1967 Detroit 'Uprising,' in which the city witnessed five days of intense and violent protests over police brutality. They were also activated after riots shook Washington, Chicago, Baltimore and other U.S. cities following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968. Presently, the California National Guard are not deployed under the Insurrection Act, which means, The Washington Post reported, that they cannot perform law enforcement operations, such as immigration raids, arrests and home searches. Instead, they can only perform logistics and other support missions.
DW
08-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
What is the US National Guard and how is it deployed? – DW – 06/08/2025
The US National Guard is usually deployed to fight natural disasters, but it can be used for much more than that. What are its powers and who commands it? DW provides an overview. However, US President Donald Trump has sent the National Guard to Los Angeles, California, where protests against the deportation of illegal immigrants have broken out. What is the National Guard? The National Guard is part of the US Armed Forces Reserve. It consists of two branches: The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. It was formed in 1903 by the Militia Act. US federal law determines the current structure of the National Guard. According to the Defense Manpower Data Center, as of 2023, approximately 419,000 reservists serve in the National Guard. About 9,500 are stationed in US territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands (as of 2017). Protests in Los Angeles grow over ICE immigration raids To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Where is the National Guard deployed? The National Guard has a wide range of duties. It is deployed to provide disaster relief. Most recently, it was called upon during the devastating forest fires in California in January 2025 and was also deployed after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Over 50,000 National Guard members helped with evacuations, rescue operations, and restoring order in New Orleans. It can also be deployed to ensure internal security. During the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021, over 25,000 National Guard troops were stationed in Washington DC, to ensure security around the inauguration of President Joe Biden. During the George Floyd protests in 2020, thousands of National Guard troops were mobilized in several states to support local police forces. The National Guard can also support military operations abroad, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Who commands the National Guard? When reservists are deployed inside the US states, the governor of the state in question usually assumes command. When deployed nationwide, the US president is the commander-in-chief. However, President Donald Trump decided to override the authority of California Governor Gavin Newsom when deploying the National Guard in Los Angeles during protests against ICE immigration raids. Trump cited national security as the reason for this move. Governor Newsom criticized the deployment and accused the government of "deliberately" inflaming tensions with its intervention. Who can join the National Guard? In principle, all US citizens are eligible to join the National Guard. However, they must meet certain physical, mental, and legal requirements. Most National Guard members serve in the units on a part-time basis, but there is also a minority of full-time soldiers. Soldiers who have completed military service in the army can apply to serve in the National Guard. They usually do not require any further training. Another option is voluntary enlistment for exclusive service in the National Guard without serving in active units. In this case, training is completed at a military facility. Typical duties of a National Guard member include one weekend per month and two weeks per year. National Guard members receive between $200 and $600 (€175 - €525) for weekend duty, depending on their rank. There are also allowances for accommodation and meals, education assistance, and health insurance. Pension entitlements can also be claimed for longer periods of service. This article originally appeared in German.
