National Guard deployment in D.C. faces criticism from troops and legal pressure from the administration

About 4,500 Guard soldiers remain stationed in Washington, D.C. under the "D.C. Safe and Beautiful" program, a figure that exceeds the Metropolitan Police Department's 3,800 officers and carries an estimated daily cost of roughly $3 million. Guard members who have served extended periods have expressed embarrassment, frustration and a sense of exploitation, noting that violent crime in the city is at a 30‑year low while the mission has shifted from cleanup work to routine patrols.

Two studies found no significant impact on violent crime, though minor property offenses have dipped slightly, and the deployment's total cost has already exceeded $660 million with projections that it could reach $3.4 billion if extended through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. The Center for American Progress released an analysis concluding the Guard deployments failed to curb violent crime, prompting Trump’s lawyer Alejandro Brito to send a notice demanding a retraction and threatening to file a $5 billion defamation lawsuit if the group does not comply.