Six presidents have deployed National Guard troops. Here's why.
Can President Donald Trump legally send National Guard troops into Washington and seize control of the district’s police force? The short answers are yes and yes.
Trump has authority over the DC National Guard. It’s the sole guard unit that reports only to the president.
Section 740 of Washington’s Home Rule Act gives presidents the authority to take control of the city’s police department for up to 30 days during emergencies. Congressional approval is not needed.
Trump has used the National Guard before, and so have other presidents. Deployments have been used to enforce civil rights, quell urban violence, and, once, even to fill in for striking postal workers.
Which presidents have used the National Guard – and why
Six presidents – four Republicans and two Democrats – have activated the National Guard 11 times since 1957. Here's a breakdown of when presidential orders were made, the number of troops deployed, and whether the presidents had approval from the local governors or mayors:
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What is the National Guard?
The National Guard, a military force with about 430,000 members, serves under state and federal authorities, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. It serves with regular military personnel overseas.
National Guard troops have also assisted in other missions, including:
- Disaster relief
- Military support overseas
- Domestic law enforcement
- Border security
- Election cybersecurity support
Trump announced his latest moves on Aug. 11 as part of a federal crackdown on crime, despite police statistics that indicate a decline in crime in the capital.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move "unsettling and unprecedented." Democrats criticized the action as a “power grab.”
The president can't take over the DC government, according to Politico. Congress would first have to amend the Home Rule Act.
NOTE President Kennedy authorized, but did not deploy, National Guard troops to desegregate public schools in Alabama in September 1963.
SOURCE Paste BN Network reporting and research; nationalguard.mil; Reuters; Council on Foreign Relations