The announcement comes after two National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that an additional 500 National Guard members are being deployed to Washington, DC. The announcement comes after two National Guard members were shot near the White House on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters, Hegseth characterised the shooting as a "cowardly" act that targeted "the best of America." He went on to reveal that President Donald Trump has requested that additional troops be sent to the nation's capital to strengthen the administration’s "resolve" to make DC safer.
"If criminals want to conduct things like this, violence against America's best, we will never back down," Hegseth said.
Hegseth added that the administration is following the situation closely and is gathering more information about the shooting.
The National Guard has been deployed in DC since August, when the Trump administration carried out a federal takeover of the city to reduce crime. Over 2,000 Guard personnel have been assigned.
However, a federal judge ruled last week that the crackdown violated federal law. District Judge jia Cobb argued that the deployment exceeded the president's legal authroity, but stayed the ruling for 21 days for the Trump adminsitration to appeal it.
Trump applauded the success of his administration's crackdown on DC just yesterday during the White House's turkey pardon. The president said DC was "one of our most unsafe places anywhere in the United States," saying it has now become "a totally safe city."
"You could walk down any street in Washington and you're going to be just fine. And I want to thank the National Guard. I want to thank you for the job you've done here is incredible," Trump said.
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