President Trump wants to send an additional 500 National Guard to Washington, D.C., after two Guard members were shot just blocks from the White House Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said.
Why it matters: Trump's deployment of the National Guard to the nation's capital — intended to counter crime in the capital city — has lasted about four months with no end in sight.
- "We have received the request and will rapidly execute," an Army official told Axios Wednesday.
State of play: D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, who has challenged the deployment, said in a recent court filing that the National Guard is expected to remain in D.C. through summer 2026.
- The White House has not said how long it plans to keep the National Guard in the capital.
Read more about the National Guard in D.C.:
Why did Trump deploy the National Guard?
The big picture: Trump deployed the National Guard to D.C. in August as part of a federal crackdown on crime in the nation's capital.
By the numbers: Nearly 2,200 National Guard troops were still in D.C. as of Tuesday, down from a peak of 2,500.
- Several hundred members came from Republican states, including 180 from West Virginia.
Zoom out: Recent polls show that a majority of Americans oppose the deployments.
- Top Trump administration officials in August dismissed protests against the federal takeover of the U.S. capital.
Friction point: Trump repeatedly threatened to declare a national emergency in D.C. in an effort to keep troops there longer.
- The 1878 Posse Comitatus Act largely bars the military from performing law enforcement functions on American soil.
D.C. sues to remove National Guard
What we're watching: In September, Schwalb sued to end the National Guard's deployment.
- He argued that Trump illegally used the military for local law enforcement purposes.
- U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb ruled this month that the deployment was unlawful, but her decision is paused until Dec. 11 to allow for an appeal.
The latest: The Trump administration filed an emergency motion Wednesday asking a federal appeals court to halt Cobb's ruling after the shooting.
- In the appeal, the administration argued the deployment was "plainly lawful," asserting that the president's role as commander-in-chief grants him the authority to deploy National Guard forces to the nation's capitol, even without explicit approval.
Behind the scenes: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in a September order agreed to coordinate with the Trump administration "to the maximum extent allowable by law."
- She privately urged Schwalb to hold off on filing the lawsuit.
Two National Guard members shot near White House
The latest: One suspect was in custody Wednesday after two National Guard members were shot near the White House.
- West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey initially announced on X that both Guard members had died. But 20 minutes later he said he was receiving "conflicting reports" about the Guard members' condition.
- Trump on Truth Social said the suspect was also "severely wounded" during the attack and will "pay a very steep price."
- The FBI is assisting with the investigation, per agency director Kash Patel.
Go deeper: Two National Guard members shot near White House in D.C.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with details of the emergency appeal from the Trump administration.
