Troops from the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) will continue their assignment in Washington, D.C. even if the government shuts down.
WVNG soldiers and airmen have been in the U.S. capitol since the middle of August and are expected to be released from active duty prior to the end of November, according to a written statement from the guard.
“Currently, we are expecting all members of the West Virginia National Guard deployed for Operation DC Safe & Beautiful to be released from active duty prior to Nov. 30, 2025,” the guard statement reads. ” As with all military operations, that date may change based on operational needs as they occur. Our guard is proud to support the President’s initiative to keep our nation’s capital safe and to demonstrate our commitment to a strong and secure America.”
Six states deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., in response to a request from the Trump administration to address crime.
They are:
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Ohio
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- West Virginia
This deployment is paid for by the federal government. But there remains a possibility there may be a government shutdown next week if Congress cannot come to an agreement on a continuing budget resolution.
A separate statement from the Joint Task Force-DC leadership said “Joint Task Force-DC leadership is aware of the potential lapse in appropriations that can result in the event of a government shutdown. National Guard members supporting JTF-DC will continue to execute their current mission and our commitment to the welfare and safety of DC residents is resolute.”
According to an article written by the West Virginia National Guard, West Virginia service members are not conducting beautification projects, such as litter collection and site restoration.
“The WVNG is supporting Joint Task Force – District of Columbia (JTF-DC) in areas of sustainment, logistics, administration, public affairs and Joint Staff augmentation. Security missions include static and roving presence patrols,” it read.
On Thursday, a group of citizen activists, called Free DC, from all the involved states had a virtual press conference to protest the troop deployment.
“Towns in West Virginia have crumbling infrastructure where folks aren’t even reachable by emergency vehicles,” Dani Parent, executive director of West Virginia Citizen Action Group, said.
“We have so many specific needs for the West Virginia National Guard that it is unconscionable to send those resources and to send that manpower out of state for a manufactured crisis. Our governor’s willingness to send our guard out of state for political theater while rejecting our urgent needs here in the state is unacceptable.”
