About 300 Georgia National Guard troops will be deployed to Washington in mid-September to aid President Donald Trump’s federal intervention in the nation’s capital.
Gov. Brian Kemp said the troops will provide a visible presence and support local law enforcement in D.C. Their specific tasks have not been clearly outlined, but Kemp said Friday that they will vary based on local needs. Troops may be armed and operate under civilian law enforcement, he added.
The D.C. National Guard was deployed Aug. 11. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered troops to start carrying firearms while patrolling the streets of Washington about a week later.
Trump has said his decision to deploy troops to the capital was aimed at tamping down on crime. But troops in D.C. aren’t out solving murders. That task still lies with local law enforcement.
While the exact duties of Georgia Guard troops remain murky, the troops already deployed in D.C. have been spotted doing various tasks, from patrolling monuments to cleaning up the city while assigned to the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force.” The Georgia Guard could be doing just that.
D.C. troops have been spreading mulch, clearing leaves and picking up trash around the Tidal Basin, Hains Point, the Watergate Complex, McPherson Square, Marvin Gaye Park and other parts of the city.
Other troops have been armed and patrolling the streets and landmarks. The White House said guard members have been providing a visible presence along the National Mall, key federal buildings, the Washington waterfront and metro subway stations.
Future plans include presence patrols in residential neighborhoods and other locations throughout the district, according to federal officials.
Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Amber Monio, National Guard Bureau
Credit: Air Force Master Sgt. Amber Monio, National Guard Bureau
Though the U.S. Marshals Service and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department are the lead agencies, officials said troops are tasked with responding to various incidents and notifying local police.
For example, when a man was struck by a train at a Washington Metro station platform Aug. 20, several troops responded to the scene, called 911 and assisted first responders, the White House said in a press release.
Georgia’s Guard, which consists of 11,000 soldiers and 3,000 airmen, has been deployed to various missions in recent years.
It’s common for guard members to assist after natural disasters, such as when Hurricane Helene hit South Georgia in October of last year and troops cleared branches and handed out meals and supplies. Troops have also patrolled along the U.S. border with Mexico and responded to combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Georgia Guard members have been dispatched for law enforcement initiatives. In 2020, they protected state government buildings during a burst of violence across the city that left four dead. A year later, they secured the state Capitol in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington.
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