Six states are now sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., in an effort to help President Donald Trump‘s administration combat crime and violence.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) via email Monday for comment.

Why It Matters

The deployments represent an unprecedented federal intervention in the District of Columbia’s local policing and prompted legal challenges, public protests and sharp criticism from D.C. officials who said the move violated home rule.

The shift raised questions about the use of the National Guard for domestic law-enforcement support and the scope of presidential emergency powers.

What To Know

As of Monday evening, six states have agreed to send troops to the nation’s capital. Those states include West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Ohio.

According to The Associated Press, West Virginia said it would pledge 300 to 400 troops, South Carolina offered 200, and Ohio said it could pledge 150 troops. Louisiana’s Governor Jeff Landry said the state would send 135 soldiers to the capital, along with 200 from Mississippi and 160 troops from Tennessee.

The AP notes that the states were responding to requests from the Trump administration in sending the troops, but it is immediately unclear why the additional support is needed.

Below is a map of the states:

About 800 Guard members had already been activated in the District before additional state authorizations, with governors from multiple Republican-led states saying they would send troops at the administration’s request.

President Donald Trump declared a public-safety emergency for Washington and ordered a federal operation that included federal agents and National Guard personnel to traverse city streets in an effort to restore law and order and restore the capital’s beauty, the president said.

What People Are Saying

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican, on X on Monday: “I’ve approved the deployment of approximately 200 Mississippi National Guard Soldiers to Washington, D.C., to support President Trump’s effort to return law and order to our nation’s capital.

“Crime is out of control there, and it’s clear something must be done to combat it. Americans deserve a safe capital city that we can all be proud of. I know the brave men and women of our National Guard will do an excellent job enhancing public safety and supporting law enforcement.”

Governor Landry on X on Monday: “I have approved the deployment of approximately 135 @LANationalGuard soldiers to Washington DC to assist in President @realDonaldTrump’s mission of restoring safety and peace in our nation’s capital. We are a nation of law and order. Our capital is a reflection of our nation’s respect, beauty, and standards. We cannot allow our cities to be overcome by violence and lawlessness. I am proud to support this mission to return safety and sanity to Washington DC and cities all across our country, including right here in Louisiana.”

Trump on Truth Social on Monday: “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing! Until 4 days ago, Washington, D.C., was the most unsafe ‘city’ in the United States, and perhaps the World. Now, in just a short period of time, it is perhaps the safest, and getting better every single hour! People are flocking to D.C. again, and soon, the beautification will begin!”

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on X last week: “Let us be clear about what the law requires during a Presidential declared emergency: it requires the mayor of Washington, DC to provide the services of the Metropolitan Police Department for federal purposes at the request of the President. We have followed the law. In reference to the U.S. Attorney General’s order, there is no statute that conveys the District’s personnel authority to a federal official.”

What Happens Next

Washington officials filed litigation seeking to block aspects of the federal takeover and a court directive prompted a partial rollback of an attempt to place the city’s police department under federal command.