The Army Secretary defends National Secretariat for Combating DC Crime

Exclusive: Military secretary And driscoll He defended the troops on the National Guard in Washington, DC, to help fight violent crime, insistenting soldiers “are delighted” to support their own communities.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Driscoll said DC Gard “was built for this type of mission” and praised that 2,000 soldiers were currently deployed – including 800 from DC and 1,200 of six countries. Although some critics warn of “slippery slope” towards Militarized Police, Driscoll rejected those concerns as “wrong”.

“We are the richest nation in the history of the world, and that our great excellent deficiency of standards has largely reflected in the world, somehow tragically,” DrisColl said. “From individual members of the guards I talked, they are thrilled with that mission.”

The Trump administration insisted that the guard acts to support local and federal law enforcement agencies to break down on DC crime that began 7. August. This week, the Secretary of Defense Pete hegseth Announced that some guards would be authorized to carry weapons while carrying their mission throughout the city.

Some troops of the National Guard are now armed in Washington, DC

The SEC Army. Dan Driscoll defended the troops to the National Guard in Washington, DC, to help fight violent crime, insistenting soldiers “are delighted” to support their own communities. (SPC. Sullivan Luke from 75. Ranger Puka)

City leaders deserve guard with helping facilitating pressure on overloaded police forces, although the questions remained in the scope of the mission and how long the trunk will remain on the streets. Meanwhile, civilian freedoms advocate risks of deploying normalization of the use of military forces in civil police. They warn that a precedent can be extended outside the capital and create lasting tensions between communities and uniformed troops.

“Most of the reporting on slippery slope of logic around is wrong and unwise, the real value offered by the President and Secretary of Defense to the people of DC and our nation, right now,” Driscoll said.

The White House suggested that the military can soon schedule the guard with other cities like Chicago and Baltimore.

Vance says the National Garda “failed their–” in Washington, extending the extension of the mission

With the dome of the American Capitol in the background, members of the National Guard DC continue to watch the external union station 19. August 2025. (Kevin Lamarkue / Photo / Reuters File)

Army National Gardeer It is historically called during the moments of civil unrest or natural disasters, but rarely for long-term crime suppression. The DC Mission Debate underlines the double responsibilities of the guards – serve and government governors in domestic emergencies and the Federal Government in the National Defense.

Biden administration relied on guard on guard during a pandemic with a marinewagon and after the Rebellion of Capitol Jan. Years, when thousands of troops were mobilized to ensure the city.

(SPT. Luke Sullivan / 75th Rendger PUK)

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Driscoll has pushed back to concerns that deployment could undermine the willingness of guard to implement abroad abroad. “These are soldiers who live here,” he said. “Their families are here. They see the effects of crime in their own neighborhoods and are proud to be part of the renewal of security to a national main role.”

For DrisColl, the mission reflects what he calls practical use of force. “They contribute there every day, and DC people are safer for it,” he said.