Members of the Nationwide Guard stand in entrance of a big picture of U.S. President Donald Trump that hangs from the the Robert F. Kennedy Division of Justice Constructing on Might 18, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Photos North America
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a strongly worded letter to the pinnacle of Michigan’s Nationwide Guard, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer reiterated troops from her state are solely for use for operations surrounding America 250 celebrations in Washington, D.C., and never for President Trump’s long-running — and controversial — joint process drive to struggle crime. She mentioned that she would pull her troops from town if that’s not the case, within the letter obtained by NPR.
“Please take all essential measures to make sure the Michigan Nationwide Guard is barely supporting the slender and restricted America 250 Mission and is on no account supporting the D.C. Protected and Stunning Mission,” wrote Gov. Whitmer, referencing the official identify for the federal process drive.
Trump deployed lots of of troops to Washington, D.C., in August of 2025, in what consultants mentioned was a shocking departure from governing norms. He mentioned he did so to deal with rampant crime, regardless of declining crime charges on the time. The variety of troops within the metropolis has elevated over time to greater than 4,800 from Washington, D.C. and virtually two dozen states, which till just lately had been solely Republican-led.
Michigan — which has 161 guard members at present within the metropolis — is one among 4 Democratic-led states that despatched members of their Nationwide Guard to D.C. in latest weeks, forward of an inflow of vacationers for America 250 celebrations. North Carolina and Kentucky every despatched one member of their guard, whereas Minnesota despatched greater than 100 final week.
Kentucky confirmed to NPR Monday that it had recalled its one guard member over the weekend, after that member was “diverted to the duty drive by the federal authorities with out the data or consent of Gov. Beshear of the Kentucky Guard,” Scottie Ellis, a spokesperson for Gov. Beshear, wrote to NPR in an e mail.
When contacted by NPR, spokespeople for every respective Democratic governor’s workplace made it clear that their guard members had been despatched to assist particularly with America 250, not for regulation enforcement functions as a part of the bigger ongoing federal joint process drive operation. All 4 states have been clear about their opposition to the Trump administration’s ongoing deployment of Nationwide Guard troops to D.C., submitting an amicus transient in help of litigation difficult it as just lately as Might.
However in latest days, a video of troops figuring out themselves as Michigan Nationwide Guard members patrolling the Georgetown waterfront — an upscale neighborhood greater than a mile away from any official America 250 celebrations — started circulating on social media. NPR has authenticated the video. Whitmer’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to NPR’s request to confirm that the troops had been Michigan members.
All state guard members are at present in D.C. below Title 32 standing, which basically signifies that the federal authorities pays for the deployment, however the state governors keep management and command of their troops. However former Nationwide Guard officers say it is impractical for states to play a job in day-to-day actions in a posh nationwide mission like what’s taking place in D.C.
“If the Nationwide Guard has outlined the America 250 Mission to increase past direct help for occasions celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary, please let me know so we are able to make sure the Michigan Nationwide Guard’s efforts are fastidiously restricted,” Gov. Whitmer’s letter reads.
It goes on to say that if that may’t be ensured, then Gov. Whitmer will “finish Michigan’s help for the America 250 mission.”
Authorized consultants, like these on the Brennan Heart for Justice who’ve intently been watching Trump’s ongoing deployment to D.C., fear that drawing a distinction between the America 250 celebration and the overall mission of the joint process drive within the metropolis will show troublesome. The joint process drive is basically finishing up excessive visibility presence patrols in residential neighborhoods, public parks and metro stations.
Troops from all 4 Democratic-led states are listed as a part of the official federal joint process drive numbers launched to the general public. Gov. Whitmer mentioned the Michigan troops shouldn’t be included in that rely.
The places of work for different Democratic governors NPR reached out to about that record additionally mentioned their guard members should not be included.
When requested concerning the confusion, a spokesperson for the joint process drive advised NPR that it’s overseeing all guard members in D.C. for organizational functions, however being on the record “doesn’t change their particular mission.” The joint process drive didn’t instantly reply to NPR’s request for remark as to why Michigan guard members had been apparently in Georgetown, and if that was a part of the America 250 operations.
