Operation Liberation: National Guard Deployed to DC to Tackle Crime and Homelessness
In a significant move to address rising crime and homelessness, President Donald Trump has deployed approximately 400 National Guard members to Washington D.C., with hundreds more expected to report for duty. The operation, aimed at making the nation’s capital “safe, clean and beautiful,” has already seen 103 arrests since August 7, when Trump’s order to federalize D.C.’s police department was announced. The National Guard troops were spotted rolling into the National Mall in military vehicles, deploying near monuments and a U.S. Park building in the crime-ridden neighborhood of Anacostia.
Increased Police Presence and Arrests
The joint operation between federal and local authorities has resulted in a significant increase in arrests, with 23 made on Monday and 43 on Tuesday, including suspects wanted for murder, gun offenses, and other crimes. A total of 24 guns were seized on Tuesday, highlighting the severity of the situation. The operation will now run around the clock, with over 1,450 personnel participating, including 750 Metropolitan Police Department officers and federal law enforcement officers.
Trump’s Vision for a Safer DC
Describing the federalization of the police as “Liberation Day in D.C.,” Trump declared, “We’re going to take our capital back.” The operation will not only tackle crime but also homelessness, with those camping in D.C. federal parks facing options to leave, go to a homeless shelter, or face arrest. The deployment of the National Guard is part of a broader effort to restore order and safety in the nation’s capital.
