Department of Justice rejects D.C. Council demand to withdraw National Guard

The U.S. Department of Justice has criticized the D.C. Council for requesting that state governors withdraw National Guard troops from Washington, D.C. In a letter to council members, Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald characterized the council’s actions as “politically-motivated” and “impotent theatrics,” asserting that the local governing body has no authority to demand the removal of these troops.

The dispute stems from a federal surge that began last August after President Donald Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, citing a crime emergency. This move allowed for the deployment of out-of-state National Guard members and placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. The deployment is expected to continue until January 2029, with an estimated additional cost of $1.4 billion.

The D.C. Council members sent letters to various governors requesting withdrawal by September 1, arguing that the deployment lacks a demonstrated benefit to violent crime reduction and raises concerns regarding the “militarization of civilian spaces” and the erosion of local democratic control. Conversely, the DOJ maintains that the deployment has coincided with a substantial drop in the city’s murder rate and violent crime levels.