West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said on 16 August he will deploy between 300 and 400 members of the West Virginia National Guard to Washington, D.C., at the request of the Trump administration. The contingent, which will bring mission-essential equipment and provide specialised training, is being funded by the federal government. The move follows President Donald Trump’s 11 August executive order declaring a “crime emergency,” federalising the District’s police department and activating about 800 members of the D.C. National Guard. Under federal law, the outside troops can protect federal property and assist local authorities but are not authorised to carry out routine police duties. Other Republican-led states quickly joined the effort. South Carolina authorised about 200 Guard members, Ohio approved 150 military police and Mississippi added 200 soldiers on 18 August. Louisiana has signalled it will contribute roughly 135 personnel. The first out-of-state units began arriving in Washington on 19 August, lifting the combined deployment to more than 1,000 troops. District officials and civil-rights advocates have questioned the expansion. Mayor Muriel Bowser notes that violent crime in Washington has fallen 26 percent since 2024 and argues the city does not require a militarised presence. The Pentagon has not detailed why additional manpower is needed, and critics warn the buildup represents an unprecedented federal intervention in local policing. The multi-state mobilisation is the largest National Guard presence from outside jurisdictions in the capital since early 2021 and could grow further if more governors respond to White House requests.