Pentagon To Reportedly Keep National Guard In Dc Three More Years Even After Trump Declares City ‘crime Free’

The Pentagon is reportedly readying to support National Guard troops successful Washington D.C. for different 3 years, contempt PresidDonald Trump declaring nan metropolis virtually “crime free.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to soon motion disconnected connected nan plan, which would spot troops maintain their presence successful nan U.S. Capitol until nan extremity of nan president’s 2nd word successful January 2029, sources told ABC News.

“The Department of War is committed to supporting nan President’s mission to reside nan pandemic of crime successful our Nation’s capital. There are nary announcements to make astatine this time,” Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson told The Independent in a statement.

The Independent has besides contacted nan White House for comment.

It comes aft Trump boasted during an arena Thursday evening, alongside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, that D.C. was all-but free of crime, a promise he has made aggregate times previously.

"The premier minister's sojourn comes arsenic we're conscionable days distant from nan astir beautiful play present successful Washington, which, by nan way, is simply a crime free city... conscionable about,” he said.

Crime successful Washington D.C. has so seen a simplification since Trump returned to office. From January 1, 2025 until nan opening of this year, convulsive crime successful nan metropolis was down by 29 percent overall.

As of Thursday it had travel down different 15 percent. Homicide was down by 63 percent, though battle pinch a vulnerable limb was up by 31 percent.

According to National Guard data, conscionable nether 3,000 National Guard troops are presently deployed successful D.C.

ABC News reports nan unit includes contingents from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Oklahoma, pinch units rotating successful and retired of D.C.

Trump has agelong obsessed complete his clean-up operations successful nan capital.

In an executive bid past year, nan president announced nan constitution of nan D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force, which would beryllium chaired by nan Assistant to nan President and Homeland Security Adviser.

“The national superior city, Washington, D.C., is nan only metropolis that belongs to each Americans and that each Americans tin declare arsenic theirs. As nan superior metropolis of nan top federation successful nan history of nan world, it should showcase beautiful, clean, and safe nationalist spaces,” nan bid stated.

“America’s superior must beryllium a spot successful which residents, commuters, and visitors consciousness safe astatine each hours, including connected nationalist transit. Its highways, boulevards, and parks should beryllium clean, well-kept, and pleasant.

“Its monuments, museums, and buildings should bespeak and animate awe and appreciation for our Nation’s strength, greatness, and heritage. Our citizens merit thing less.”

Heavily equipped troops person been a visible beingness successful Washington D.C. since, operating areas including Metro obstruction stations, downtown and nan National Mall. Some besides transportation retired civic duties specified arsenic picking up trash, scrubbing graffiti and different landscaping work.