The National Guard's presence in the U.S. capital is set to continue indefinitely, potentially extending into the summer of 2026, as revealed in a recent court filing.
The filing, submitted by District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb, indicates that internal documents suggest the National Guard is preparing for a "long-term persistent presence," possibly coinciding with the nation's semiquincentennial celebration next summer.
As reported by Newsmax, the news of the filing comes on the heels of a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals panel's decision on Monday to permit the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. The initial order to deploy 200 guardsmen to the city was issued on September 28 by the White House, but was swiftly blocked by a federal judge, leaving the order in a state of legal uncertainty until the recent ruling.
Schwalb's filing is part of a broader lawsuit that challenges what he perceives as an unlawful deployment of the Guard in Washington, D.C. The deployment was announced by President Donald Trump in August, effectively placing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control following the declaration of a "crime emergency" in the city.
The filing includes documents that allege the Guard's collaboration with local law enforcement operations, a move Schwalb argues is in violation of federal law.
An email from D.C. National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Leland Blanchard directed troops to begin "wintering" their formation, a term Schwalb interprets as an indication that troops are preparing to remain in D.C. through the winter months. Court documents reveal that additional service members from Alabama and other states have been rotated into the capital since mid-September, further suggesting an ongoing operation.
Schwalb has voiced concerns that out-of-state troops are receiving orders directly from the D.C. National Guard, which reports to the Pentagon rather than local officials. The filing also includes exhibits that show Guard members acting as federal law enforcement officers, carrying out policing duties that Schwalb argues violate the Posse Comitatus Act, a 147-year-old law that prohibits the use of federal troops for domestic law enforcement unless authorized by Congress.
"President Trump successfully stopped the out-of-control crime crisis in our nation's capital and turned it into a safe and clean city," White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told WUSA-TV on Tuesday. "To ensure the long-term success of the federal operations to deter violent crime, the National Guard is still present in Washington, D.C. We are thankful for their service."
The filing warns of the potential public safety risks posed by the extended deployment of armed soldiers, many of whom lack police training. U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, a Biden appointee overseeing the case, has yet to rule on D.C.'s request for an injunction.
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