As students across the country return to college campuses this month, most will be settling into the familiar rhythms of college life. At George Washington University, I am returning to something else too: a campus in a city that has been under military occupation for more than a year. This deployment is not normal. It is not normal for GW students to pass by the National Guard every single day on campus. It is not normal for the National Guard to have a presence in D.C.'s Metro stations and public spaces. Both D.C. and GW are incredibly politically active, so it is no surprise that the National Guard's presence on and around campus has been heavily discussed and protested. The Trump administration's decision to deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C. was irresponsible, an unproductive use of money and largely ineffective in reducing crime. It should end.
As an Air Force dependent, I grew up extremely connected to the military community surrounding me. I have had the opportunity to meet many incredible and motivated service members. While so many are grateful for the opportunities the military has presented to them, that does not mean every action the U.S. military takes is easy to justify. Sending National Guard members away from their families to patrol city streets as part of an open-ended mission is not how their service can best be used.
Some argue that the deployment of the National Guard was necessary to lower crime rates in D.C. However, violent crime was already falling when President Trump ordered the National Guard into the city on August 11, 2025. The Justice Department reported that violent crime fell 35% in 2024 and reached its lowest level in more than 30 years. There is also a high price that comes with this decision. As of early August 2026, about 4,600 troops were stationed in the city, and the Defense Department estimated that continuing the deployment through January 2029 would cost roughly $1.4 billion during fiscal years 2027 to 2029. A recent Reuters review found that Guard members were mentioned in only about 1.3% of criminal cases filed in D.C. Superior Court since the deployment began. The evidence does not justify an open-ended military presence in the city.
The lack of representation in D.C. has left residents feeling voiceless. Unlike the 50 states, D.C. does not have a governor with control over its National Guard. The D.C. Guard's commanding general reports to the president, with activation authority delegated through the Defense Department and the Army. In November 2025, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ruled the deployment unlawful. The order was stayed while the administration appealed, allowing the troops to remain. D.C. residents are being asked to accept an extraordinary military presence that their local government cannot end.
My involvement as a fellow with Sierra Club Military Outdoors this summer has taught me how to analyze this issue through an environmental lens. The National Park Service has already faced severe cuts under the Trump administration, and the administration's 2027 budget proposal would cut $736 million from park operations, a reduction of more than 25%. Viewing these major budget cuts alongside the fact that the National Guard has been observed cleaning and maintaining public lands is bothersome. The beautification and maintenance of public land should remain a priority, but it is a misstep to cut the National Park Service while making that work a priority for the National Guard. These public spaces should invite people in, not make a military presence feel like part of the scenery.
It is difficult to imagine that this is what service members and their families had in mind when they joined the National Guard to serve and protect their country. Service members make immense sacrifices, and spending time away from home to patrol the streets of D.C. to 'deter crime' is not how they could best serve the country. The November 2025 shooting that killed Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and wounded Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was tragic and undoubtedly had a major impact on their families, friends and fellow service members. They should not have been placed in this situation without a clear and necessary mission.
It is in the best interest of the Trump administration to end the current deployment of the National Guard to D.C. This decision has been an inefficient use of money and has taken a toll on members of the National Guard and their families. Congress should press the administration to end it, and D.C. residents, students and visitors should refuse to treat it as normal. As I return to campus this fall, I should not have to accept National Guard patrols as a normal part of going to class. More than a year later, none of us should.