DC National Guard troop deployment extended through December
The article reports that the deployment of District of Columbia National Guard troops has been extended through December. These troops were originally deployed under President Donald Trump’s directive to support a broader federal law enforcement initiative aimed at combating crime in the capital. Along with federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department, the Guard’s presence is intended to maintain order. While approximately 950 Guard members are stationed in D.C., not all are expected to serve through December, but the extension signals a prolonged mission.
The extended orders ensure that Guard members remain eligible for benefits and pay, as typical mobilization requires orders exceeding 30 days. Additional National Guard troops from several other states are also deployed in Washington,though their deployment end dates remain uncertain.
The soldiers’ duties have faced criticism, with some viewing their activities-such as using phones, trash cleanup, and grounds maintenance-as an inefficient use of military resources. The Joint Task Force overseeing the Guard noted the troops have been involved in extensive cleanup operations in coordination with the National Park Service. This situation has raised questions among military leaders about balancing non-traditional duties with maintaining troop readiness.The task force acknowledged concerns about pay and benefits but affirmed that most service members’ orders qualify them for full benefits.
DC National Guard troop deployment extended through December
District of Columbia National Guard troops have orders to stay in the district through December, a Guard official said Wednesday.
President Donald Trump deployed the troops as part of a larger federal law enforcement plan in the city to crack down on crime. He also federalized the city’s police force, the Metropolitan Police Department.
The official said the mission’s extension is to ensure Guard members continue to receive benefits and pay for a mission that looks to last months. They added that all 950 Guard members in Washington may not serve until December, but the orders are a strong indication that their role is not winding down soon.
Guard members usually need to be on orders for more than 30 days to qualify for benefits, and multiple extensions to orders can sometimes cause interruptions.
Around 1,300 National Guard soldiers from West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee are also in Washington. It’s unclear when their orders will end.
A National Guard official said leaders are expected to put out guidance on leave and time off for deployed troops, a sign of the extended stay.
The Washington task force acknowledged Monday that it was “aware of concerns regarding pay and benefits for members of Joint Task Force-District of Columbia.”
“While exceptions exist, the majority of service members are mobilized on orders extending beyond 30 days, ensuring they qualify for full benefits,” the task force said in a statement.
The troops’ presence in Washington has been criticized as excessive and an overreach of power. Other criticisms are aimed at what the soldiers are actually doing.
With several other federal law enforcement agencies and the MPD policing the city, Guard troops have been spotted on their phones, cleaning up trash, or doing groundskeeping. The Joint Task Force said the Guard had “cleaned more than 3.2 miles of roadways, collected more than 677 bags of trash, and disposed of five truckloads of plant waste in coordination with the U.S. National Park Service.”
US CITIES TRUMP HAS MENTIONED SENDING FEDERAL TROOPS TO
Detractors have wondered whether using the soldiers in such a way is the best use of the armed forces.
Master Sgt. David Bowden told the Washington Post that the cleanup duties raise questions about how to maintain the units’ readiness. “It’s a question,” Bowden said, that “I and a lot of other higher enlisted are asking.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
