Some Georgetown University students condemned President Donald Trump’s deployment of additional National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., after two service members were shot Nov. 26.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced it would order 500 additional National Guard members to D.C. after two West Virginia National Guard members were shot, one fatally, near the Farragut West Metro station Nov. 26. Trump initially deployed the National Guard to D.C. in August, citing a “public safety emergency.”
William Mead-McCaughan (CAS ʼ27), a student who grew up in the District, said deploying more National Guard members may increase tensions in the city.
“The fact that they’re in D.C. has caused them to become a target, and I’m not sure that deploying more National Guard is going to do anything except for inflaming the situation further,” Mead-McCaughan told The Hoya.
After Georgetown students spotted federal agents on campus in August, university community members criticized Trump’s deployment of National Guard members and federal agents across D.C.
Nico Cefalu (CAS ʼ27), the president of Georgetown’s chapter of the legal nonprofit American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said Trump’s decision to deploy more National Guard troops does not address the root issues of crime.
“If he hadn’t deployed them, I don’t think these people would have lost their lives, and D.C. is already one of the most policed and militarized cities in the country — probably the most,” Cefalu told The Hoya. “I don’t think it’s a lack of law enforcement that’s causing any issues in this city — it’s a lack of investment in the sort of services that are used to prevent crime.”
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, violent crime in the District decreased by 28% and all crime decreased by 17% from 2024 as of Dec. 4.
Mead-McCaughan said deploying the National Guard in D.C. is not necessary.
“There are times where the National Guard is very important and very helpful,” Mead-McCaughan said. “I think having the National Guard deployed when there’s nothing out of the ordinary going on in a city is always dangerous, because it is people who stand out, people who, a lot of times, are carrying guns.”
The Pentagon confirmed Dec. 2 that all National Guard members deployed in the District are now armed following the shooting.
Shae McInnis (CAS ʼ28), who supports the National Guard’s presence in D.C., said he believes adding more service members will make the District safer.
“I’m supportive of this additional increase, and I think it’s warranted, both pragmatically, to make our city even safer, and also perceptually because I think there has to be the impression that the Trump administration does not tolerate these heinous attacks on members of law enforcement,” McInnis told The Hoya. “I think this is a good signal to show that he’s devoted to public safety, to preserving the rule of law.”
McInnis added that the shooting shocked him.
“I think it’s just absolutely horrific that our law enforcement, who are just doing nothing in this case, defending Washington, D.C., were attacked in such a heinous way,” McInnis said.
Elinor Clark (CAS ʼ27), Georgetown University College Democrats’ advocacy director, said Trump was wrong to politicize the shooting, which she said reflects a wider pattern of political violence.
“It is a tragedy that these people lost their lives, and it’s also a tragedy that these people who signed up to protect and serve our country are being weaponized — used as tools by Donald Trump — to push his authoritarian agenda,” Clark told The Hoya.
Cefalu said he is concerned that taxpayer dollars are funding the deployment of National Guard members.
“I think most of what they’ve been doing is picking up trash around the monuments, which is a good thing, of course, but it costs tax dollars, taxpayer money, to keep the National Guard deployed here, and I think that could be spent on much better things,” Cefalu said.
Cefalu said he feels uncomfortable seeing National Guard members in D.C.
“It just puts me on edge whenever I see them,” Cefalu said. “It just makes me uneasy. I dislike seeing people in uniform patrolling around — it just makes me feel like there is martial law or something.”
Clark said the National Guard’s presence threatens the District.
“The National Guard is not making D.C. safer,” Clark said. “They are creating significantly more fear in our community, and the National Guard needs to get off of our streets.”
