According to the military, National Guard troops are now carrying weapons while they are en route to Washington, DC, the capital of the country, according to a statement released on Sunday.
The deployment, which began on August 11, 2025, following Trump’s executive order declaring a crime emergency, has been met with protests and concern from residents. The president has up to 30 days in place to manage policing in the capital under the law.
Up to 1,700 National Guard members are scheduled to mobilize in 19 states in the upcoming weeks to support President Trump’s anti-immigration and crime crackdown, according to Pentagon officials.
What is the National Guard?
In the US, the National Guard is a reserve military force that can be called upon to perform active duty. It supports military operations abroad and responds to domestic emergencies like natural disasters and civil unrest.
It has two branches, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, with roughly 431, 000 members, making it the second-largest branch of the US military.
It consists of part-time airmen and soldiers who work as civilians and work one weekend a month.
How does the National Guard differ from the US military?
One of the nation’s oldest military organizations, the National Guard, dates back to 1636, which predates the US’s founding in 1776.
It evolved from colonial militias, which were established to defend nearby communities, into the modern-day National Guard structure.
Each US state and territory – as well as Washington, DC – has its own National Guard unit. These units serve both federal and state governments in a dual capacity.
The regular US military, in contrast, is a full-time federal force with active-duty personnel who work as commanders-chief for the president while conducting operations both domestically and internationally.
Who can deploy the National Guard?
The governor of a state typically orders deployments to deal with local emergencies, such as natural disasters, civil unrest, or public health crises, but the president or state governors can call on the National Guard.
Even without a governor’s request, the president can federalise the National Guard for national missions. This was the first federalization of a state without a governor’s approval since the Watts riots of 1965, which occurred earlier this year in Los Angeles despite the objections of California’s governor, Governor Gavin Newsom.
What are the possible uses for the National Guard?
The National Guard can be deployed for a wide range of domestic and federal missions, from disaster relief at home to operations abroad, including:
missions at home:
- Disaster relief (hurricanes, floods, wildfires, etc.)
- Support during civil unrest or local emergencies
- logistical, medical, and search and rescue support
Federal responsibilities:
- Reinforce active-duty forces during national crises
- deployment for combat or peacekeeping missions overseas
- support domestic and international federal military operations
When previously has the National Guard been deployed?
The National Guard has been activated hundreds, if not thousands, of times at the state level for local and regional crises throughout its long history and has been federally mobilized dozens of times for US conflicts and national emergencies.
Among the most notable National Guard actions in recent US history are:
Little Rock integration (1957) – Landmark civil rights moment with federal vs state standoff
The “Little Rock Nine” were the first African American students to attempt to enter an all-white school in Arkansas in 1957, sparking the Little Rock Integration Crisis. The governor of the state used the National Guard to obstruct them, prompting President Dwight Eisenhower to federalize the National Guard and dispatch federal troops, causing a defining conflict between state resistance and federal authority over school desegregation.
Ole Miss Integration (1962) – Civil rights movement
James Meredith, the first African American student, attempted to enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962, sparking violent riots. President John F Kennedy sent federal troops and federalised the Mississippi National Guard to enforce his admission, marking a major milestone in the US civil rights movement.
Voting Rights Act Pivotal in Selma to Montgomery marches (1965)
Civil rights activists in Montgomery, Alabama demanded African Americans’ right to vote in a march that lasted from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. After violent attacks on demonstrators during “Bloody Sunday”, President Lyndon B Johnson federalised the Alabama National Guard to protect marchers. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was directly impacted by the marches because they had had a transformative impact.
Detroit riots (1967) – Massive urban unrest with widespread destruction
After a police raid on an unlicensed bar, riots broke out in Detroit, Michigan, in July 1967. 43 people were killed and hundreds were injured as a result of the unrest quickly deteriorated into citywide violence, looting, and arson. The Michigan National Guard was deployed alongside federal troops to restore order, marking one of the deadliest and most destructive urban uprisings in US history.
National attention was given to the shooting at Kent State in 1970, with four students killed.
In May 1970, during protests against the Vietnam War at Kent State University in Ohio, the National Guard opened fire on unarmed students, killing four and wounding nine. The anti-war movement’s pivotal moment was the Kent State shooting, which also served as a reminder of how divided American society is today.
Rodney King riots (1992) – Massive civil unrest and destruction
In April 1992, following the acquittal of police officers filmed beating Rodney King, Los Angeles, California erupted in days of unrest marked by arson, looting and violence. One of the largest civil unrests in recent US history occurred when the National Guard was deployed alongside federal troops to restore order.
Ferguson protests (2014) – National Guard deployed following unrest
Following the police killing of Michael Brown, protests erupted in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. In a time of high levels of hostility and demonstrations, local authorities were helped by National Guard units in preventing unrest and ensuring public safety.
Baltimore protests (2015) – National Guard deployed following civil unrest
Following Freddie Gray’s passing while being held by police in Baltimore, Maryland, the National Guard was dispatched there in 2015. Guard units assisted local authorities in preventing unrest, preserving order, and preventing protests in the city.
Katrina (2005): A fatal natural disaster
The National Guard sent relief efforts to areas of Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, one of the most deadly and destructive hurricanes ever to hit the country. Guard units helped with rescue operations, evacuations, and relief efforts during the widespread devastation.
2020 COVID-19 pandemic: Nationwide deployment for health emergencies
In 2020, National Guard units were deployed across the US to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic, providing support for testing, vaccination and medical logistics.
George Floyd protests (2020) – Nationwide deployment in response to unrest
In response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was taken into police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, National Guard units were deployed across the US in 2020 to assist local authorities during protests.
Capitol riots (2021) – Federal deployment
Following Trump’s supporters’ attempted insurrection at the US Capitol after he lost the 2020 US presidential election to Joe Biden, National Guard units were dispatched to Washington, DC, in January 2021. Guard personnel assisted federal authorities in securing the Capitol, restoring order, and protecting lawmakers and staff during the attack.
Source: Aljazeera
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