Study Says D.C. National Guard Deployment Barely Affects Violent Crime
A new Niskanen Center study found the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., produced little to no reduction in violent crime, though researchers say it did reduce some opportunistic property offenses.[1]
Researchers estimated a 24 percent drop in opportunistic property crimes, such as vehicle break-ins.[1] They described the deployment as a "blunt and expensive instrument" whose visible military presence delivered only limited public-safety benefits.[2]
On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, President Trump said at an Oval Office event that Washington, D.C., restaurants were "reopening" and that he had created a "vibrant" capital by deploying National Guard troops.[2] In his February 2026 State of the Union address he said "we have almost no crime anymore" in Washington, D.C., and attributed the improvement to his Guard deployment.[2] A White House spokesperson told NPR that the president's National Guard policy has "driven down crime" in Washington, D.C., but did not provide evidence to substantiate that claim.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, President Trump said at an Oval Office event that Washington, D.C., restaurants were “reopening” and that he had created a “vibrant” capital by deploying National Guard troops.
- In his February 2026 State of the Union address, Trump claimed “we have almost no crime anymore” in Washington, D.C., and attributed that improvement to his Guard deployment.
- A Niskanen Center study, as cited by NPR, found the Guard deployment produced a 24 percent drop in opportunistic property crimes (for example, vehicle break-ins) but had little to no measurable effect on violent crime.
- Researchers characterized the Guard deployment as a “blunt and expensive instrument,” saying the visible military presence on Washington streets delivered only limited public-safety benefits.
- A White House spokesperson told NPR that the president’s National Guard policy has “driven down crime” in Washington, D.C., but, according to NPR, did not provide evidence to substantiate that claim.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
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- On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, President Trump claimed in an Oval Office event that Washington, D.C., restaurants are 'reopening' and that he created a 'vibrant' capital by deploying National Guard troops.
- Trump previously told a February 2026 State of the Union audience that 'we have almost no crime anymore' in Washington, D.C., attributing this to his Guard deployment.
- The Niskanen Center study cited by NPR found that the Guard deployment produced a 24 percent drop in opportunistic property crimes such as vehicle break-ins but had little to no measurable effect on violent crime.
- Researchers characterized the Guard deployment as a 'blunt and expensive instrument' whose visible military presence on Washington streets delivered only limited public-safety benefits.
- A White House spokesperson told NPR that the president’s National Guard policy has 'driven down crime' in Washington, D.C., but, according to NPR, did not provide evidence to substantiate that claim.