Indiana National Guard Troops Deployed to Washington, D.C.

Indiana Guard Units Arrive in Washington, D.C.

About 300 Indiana National Guard troops arrived in Washington, D.C., on a Saturday. Most of the deployed personnel are from Bloomington- and Gary-based units. The troops traveled to the nation’s capital following an authorization issued in mid-November.

Deployment Authorized by Governor Braun

Gov. Mike Braun approved the deployment of the Indiana National Guard soldiers in mid-November. This decision occurred about a week before an incident near the White House in which a man shot two Guard members, killing one of them. The text does not state that the injured Guard members were from Indiana, only that they were Guard members.

Support for Multi-State Troop Presence

The Indiana contingent will support more than 2,000 troops from West Virginia, Ohio, and other Republican-led states who are already deployed in Washington, D.C. These combined forces are part of a broader troop presence in the capital. The Indiana soldiers are joining these units to contribute to the ongoing mission as defined by federal and state authorities.

Federal Public Safety Emergency Declaration

President Trump called for troops in August when he declared a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C. The president cited what he described as “rampant crime” as the justification for this action. At the time of this declaration, statistics showed that crime in the city was at a 30-year low. The emergency declaration preceded the later mid-November authorization of Indiana’s deployment by Gov. Braun.

Pre-Deployment Training in Indiana

Before arriving in Washington, D.C., the Indiana National Guard troops spent several weeks at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. According to the National Guard, the training at Camp Atterbury focused on crowd management and de-escalation tactics. This preparation occurred in advance of their assignment in the capital.

Current Duties and Restrictions in the Capital

In Washington, D.C., troops have so far patrolled monuments and parks and picked up trash around the city. The Indiana National Guard soldiers are operating under restrictions that do not currently allow them to perform law enforcement actions such as searches and arrests. Their duties are therefore limited to non-law-enforcement tasks at this time.

Requests for Comment Declined

The Indiana National Guard declined requests for an interview regarding the deployment. Joint Task Force – District of Columbia also declined to be interviewed. No further official comment is provided in the source text about the mission or its future scope.