A new analysis shows the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., has reduced some property crimes but had no measurable effect on violent crime. The nonpartisan Niskanen Center study comes as federal officials plan to double troop numbers this summer.
The National Guard has been in the capital since last August under President Trump's Safe and Beautiful Task Force. About 2,800 members from the District and states with Republican governors currently patrol federal sites, parks, and metro stations. Researchers reported a 24 percent drop in opportunistic crimes such as vehicle break-ins. Violent crimes including robberies showed no change and were already declining before the deployment began. The effort costs the federal government roughly 1.5 million dollars each day. Study author Richard Hahn said similar or better results could be achieved at lower cost through targeted policing. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson dismissed the findings, stating the task force has driven down crime and improved quality of life. Officials have announced plans to increase Guard numbers to 5,000 ahead of Freedom 250 events.
