In a move stirring national debate, the deployment of National Guard units to Washington, D.C. has drawn criticism from a faction of military veterans and active-duty families. Critics, particularly in Ohio, are questioning the legal and ethical implications of using these troops for civilian law enforcement and urban beautification projects.
Ohio’s Governor Mike DeWine’s decision on August 16 to send 150 Ohio National Guard military police to the capital is part of a larger mission titled the “D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission.” This initiative, aligning with a presidential executive order, has activated close to 1,900 guardsmen from multiple states. The objective: combat crime and improve safety amid a declared crime emergency.
Chris Purdy, a veteran of the Army National Guard and founder of The Chamberlain Network, highlights the concerns over state-level control of National Guard units. “These are the military of each state effectively,” Purdy states, emphasizing the need for governors to critically assess federal orders regarding the National Guard.
Fueling the controversy, the President’s recent executive directive on August 25 mandates the U.S. Secretary of Defense to maintain a “quick reaction force” nationwide, enhancing the National Guard’s readiness to support law enforcement in civil disturbances. However, critics like Dan Maurer, an Army veteran and law associate professor at Ohio Northern University, argue this move skirts the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which limits military roles in civilian law unless conditions such as federalization under the Insurrection Act are met.
Despite the President’s announcement of a dramatic drop in D.C.’s crime rates, veteran concerns persist. Retired Army Brig. Gen. Christopher Dziubek and Navy veteran Kenneth Harbaugh stress the importance of distinguishing military functions from civilian police work. Harbaugh warns against the military’s politicization, as guardsmen work alongside law enforcement and ICE in visually similar uniforms.
Adding to the complexity, the interim commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard III, recently authorized members on Joint Task Force District of Columbia to carry weapons, stating it was after careful assessment of security needs. Blanchard assures that this decision is meticulously coordinated with law enforcement agencies.
