West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said Saturday he is sending between 300 and 400 members of the state’s National Guard, along with mission-essential equipment and specialized trainers, to Washington, D.C. The governor’s office said the deployment was requested by the Trump administration and will be paid for by the federal government. The reinforcements add to the troops and federal agents already stationed in the capital after President Donald Trump earlier this week invoked emergency authority under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to assume temporary control of the Metropolitan Police Department. The White House says additional Guard units will protect federal assets, strengthen law-enforcement operations and provide a visible deterrent to crime and homeless encampments. District officials have challenged the federal takeover, noting Justice Department figures showing violent crime in 2024 at a three-decade low. After the city filed suit, the administration revised an order that would have replaced Police Chief Pamela Smith, allowing her to remain in command. The West Virginia deployment is the first publicly confirmed contribution from a state Guard unit; it remains unclear whether other governors will follow suit.