National Guard has done little to reduce violent crime in D.C., a new study finds

[riversedge]

Source: npr






June 4, 20265:00 AM ET By Kat Lonsdorf



President Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. has reduced petty property crimes, but has had little to no effect on violent crime, despite the high cost to taxpayers, according to a new analysis from the nonpartisan think tank Niskanen Center.

The study's findings were published just weeks after federal officials announced that the number of troops in D.C. is set to double this summer to 5,000 as part of a "summer surge" of law enforcement ahead of events planned for America's 250th birthday celebration..............

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"I think on balance the National Guard's deployment is not a failure, there is success in what they've done. But I guess the point that we try to make is: compared to what?" says Richard Hahn, one of the authors of the study. "You could get the same or better outcomes, possibly much better outcomes, for much cheaper, if you just were very thoughtful about policing.".............



Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/06/04/nx-s1-5845073/national-guard-washington-dc-crime

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A recent assessment by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that it costs the federal government (TAX-PAYER$$) around $1.5 million per day for the current number of troops
deployed to D.C. 😡
www.npr.org/2026/06/04/n...

A recent assessment by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that it costs the federal government (TAX-PAYER$$) around .5 million per day for the current number of troops deployed to D.C. 😡

www.npr.org/2026/06/04/n...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-06-04T13:04:55.179Z

National Guard members stand watch near the Lincoln Memorial on the morning of Memorial Day in Washington, DC, May 25, 2026.
Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images