President Trump deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers to Washington D.C. one year ago to combat rising crime rates. While the president has claimed significant drops in crime, data suggests a more modest decline. Property crime decreased by 27% and violent crime dropped by 14% in the year following the deployment.

Deployment Costs and Effectiveness

The deployment has been costly, with an estimated monthly expense of $55 million. The total cost for the deployment, which is expected to last through the end of Trump’s term, is projected to be around $1.4 billion. Despite the expense, some residents feel that the National Guard’s presence has improved safety in their neighborhoods. Others, however, are skeptical of the deployment’s effectiveness, citing the fact that crime rates were already trending downward before the Guard’s arrival.

Experts caution that attributing the decline in crime rates solely to the National Guard deployment is challenging due to the complexity of factors influencing crime trends. Richard Hahn, a senior manager for research and evidence in the Niskanen Center’s Criminal Justice Department, noted that while the deployment may have had some impact on low-level property crime, its effect on violent crime has been relatively minimal.

Brigadier General Leland Blanchard, interim commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, highlighted the Guard’s contributions beyond crime reduction, including providing medical assistance and reuniting lost children with their families. As the deployment approaches its one-year mark, adjustments are being made to the Guard’s footprint to improve the mission’s effectiveness.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.