During a public hearing on federal law‑enforcement and military activity in Washington, D.C., Councilmember Brooke Pinto called on the five incoming governors to issue withdrawal orders for the 628 National Guard troops currently deployed from their states. The governors‑elect – from Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Texas – represent the states that supplied those out‑of‑state units.
Local families and schools raise safety concerns
Pinto, who chairs the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, highlighted complaints from parents and educators who say armed troops have been seen near schools, bus stops and ballot‑drop boxes. She referenced an October listening session at Bard High School in Ward 8, where students described seeing soldiers gearing up with weapons, marching past classroom windows and positioning near school entrances during the school day.
Following that session, Pinto joined neighborhood parents in a mid‑October protest outside the school, demanding the removal of the troops after additional sightings near election‑drop locations.
Legal backdrop and federal response
The deployment began after a federal state of emergency was declared in August 2025, allowing federal personnel to be placed in D.C. neighborhoods. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has challenged the legality of the out‑of‑state Guard presence, arguing the administration lacks authority to station non‑local units in the District.
During oral arguments in mid‑October, the Department of Justice defended the deployment, stating President Trump ordered the troops to support federal law‑enforcement missions and credited the presence with a decline in local violent crime. DOJ attorneys warned that limiting presidential authority over the Guard could impede future mobilizations for inaugurations, major protests and natural disasters.
Uncertain next steps
It remains unclear whether the incoming governors will act immediately upon taking office or how the Trump administration would respond if states move to pull their personnel. The three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has not set a deadline for a ruling on the legality of the deployments, leaving the issue open for a potential decision at any time.
Pinto also urged the incoming Democratic majority in Congress to launch oversight investigations into federal operations in D.C. and to adopt rules that would bar federal personnel from wearing face coverings on District streets.
Local leadership coordination
Council leaders plan to coordinate their next legislative steps with the incoming District leadership, including Mayor‑elect Janeese Lewis George and Delegate‑elect Robert White, as the city prepares for the transition of power.
Original reporting: Arlington County | FOX 5 DC — read the source article.
