Trump Orders 500 Additional National Guard Troops to D.C. Following Shooting of Two Guardsmen

Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of 500 additional National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., following a shooting incident that critically wounded two Guardsmen. The announcement was made by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who stated, "President Trump has asked me, and I will ask @SecArmy to the National Guard, to add 500 additional troops, National Guardsman, to Washington, D.C." Hegseth emphasized the administration's resolve, adding, "If criminals want to conduct things like this — violence against America's best — we will NEVER back down."

The directive comes after two West Virginia National Guard members were shot and critically injured near the White House on November 26, 2025. Law enforcement officials are investigating the circumstances of the shooting, which occurred just blocks from the presidential residence. The incident has intensified concerns over security in the nation's capital and the role of military personnel in maintaining public order.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth holds a recently restored title, authorized by President Trump via executive order on September 5, 2025. This move re-established the "Department of War" as a secondary designation for the Department of Defense, aiming to project a stronger stance on national security. The administration has indicated that a permanent name change would require congressional approval.

This latest deployment adds to a series of National Guard mobilizations in Washington, D.C., under the Trump administration. Earlier in August 2025, approximately 2,000 National Guard members were deployed to the city, a move that included federalizing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for a period. These deployments have frequently sparked legal challenges and public debate regarding the appropriate use of military forces in domestic law enforcement.

The legal framework governing such deployments, primarily the Posse Comitatus Act, generally restricts the use of federal military personnel for civilian law enforcement, unless explicitly authorized by the Constitution or an Act of Congress, such as the Insurrection Act. A federal judge had recently ruled a previous D.C. National Guard deployment unlawful on November 20, 2025, though the order was temporarily stayed, highlighting the ongoing legal complexities surrounding these actions.