1 year in, National Guard troops have became part of D.C. life : NPR

Key Points:

• The National Guard has been deployed in Washington, D.C. for over a year in an anti-crime mission initially launched by former President Trump, with troop numbers increasing from 800 to around 4,700 and the deployment extended until Inauguration Day 2029.
• Despite the visible military presence, studies show the deployment has not reduced violent crime, and critics argue the operation was launched under false pretenses and normalizes armed troops in civilian spaces, raising constitutional and civil liberty concerns.
• The deployment is legally contentious, with local officials and states suing to end it; however, courts have allowed it to continue due to D.C.'s unique federal status, fueling calls for D.C. statehood to gain local control over such decisions.
• Financially, the deployment is costly, estimated to cost about $3 million daily and projected to total around $3 billion through 2029, straining National Guard resources and readiness for other priorities.
• Experts warn the prolonged military presence sets a concerning precedent for future domestic deployments, especially around elections, with fears about potential misuse of military forces to influence political processes despite legal restrictions.