Unrelenting deployment in Washington D.C., National Guardsmen are feeling fatigued and without an end to their service in sight.
The National Guard troops, numbering over 2,200, including approximately 1,300 from out of state, were deployed in Washington, DC, last month. Their mission, divided into two main tasks - a "safe and secure mission" and a "beautification task force," has been extended through the end of December. This extension is primarily to ensure the continuity of their benefits, such as health care coverage.
The "beautification project" involves cleaning roadways, collecting trash, and disposing of plant waste, aiming to clean up national park properties in the city. Trump's executive order in March, titled "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful," ordered federal agencies to restore damaged federal monuments, remove graffiti, and beautify public spaces.
However, the deployment has not been without controversy. Some troops have described their mission as unlike any other, with confusion about what the military is actually doing there. The wife of a Guardsman deployed to Washington stated that more clarity on the mission's timeline would help, as they have three children with another on the way.
The troops are staying in hotels, with housing being one of the biggest expenditures. Some have received a chilly reception from locals in Washington, with city residents who disagree with Trump's federal interference hanging posters on street corners calling for the soldiers to leave. A crowd of people chanted "Go home" to some troops standing outside the Columbia Heights metro.
Despite this, some troops have reported a mixed reaction to their presence. An out-of-state Guardsman stated that the reaction is "50-50," with some people taking photos with him and thanking him for serving, while others have disapproving looks.
Senior leaders in the DC Guard have participated in the beautification projects to ensure the tasks don't fall to just junior soldiers or airmen. Retired Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, however, stated that the National Guard's duty is to defend the nation overseas and save lives in times of natural disaster, not to watch and intimidate citizens.
Trump has threatened to mobilize the National Guard to other cities, including Chicago, Baltimore, and New Orleans, as part of his administration's crackdown on crime. He has also stated that he could keep National Guard members in Washington "as long as I want" by declaring a national emergency.
It's important to note that the troops are not authorized to speak to the media and fear reprisal for speaking out about their experiences. Some have described their mission as confusing, with one soldier stating there is confusion about what the military is actually doing there.
Expenses for the mission include an estimated $7 million in catered food for the first 10 weeks, $5 million for 18 weeks of laundry services, $5 million for a tent city, $600,000 in air conditioning rental, and over $500,000 for land mobile radios.
On Labor Day, some National Guard stood beside armored military vehicles at Washington's Union Station and walked around the city's baseball stadium. However, the search results do not provide information about which National Guard units were stationed at the Washington Union Station on Labor Day nor their assigned tasks.
As the deployment continues, it remains a topic of discussion and concern for many, with questions about the mission's purpose, its impact, and its potential extension into the new year.
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