West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey said he will deploy between 300 and 400 National Guard personnel to Washington, D.C., at the request of the Trump administration. The contingent will provide “mission-essential equipment” and specialized training, and the operation will be paid for with federal funds, according to a statement from the governor’s office issued Saturday. The move comes days after President Donald Trump ordered hundreds of Guard members into the capital and temporarily asserted federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department, arguing that a surge in crime and homelessness required emergency action. Justice Department figures show violent crime in Washington fell to a three-decade low in 2024, and city data indicate a further 26% decline this year. District officials have pushed back against the federal intervention. The city reached a deal to keep Mayor Muriel Bowser’s police chief in place, while D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has sued the administration, calling the takeover an unlawful “usurpation” of local authority. The White House has said it will reassess the situation after 30 days and may seek additional Guard deployments in other cities.