Gov. Tate Reeves approves extension of Mississippi National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C.

Gov. Tate Reeves has approved an extension of Mississippi National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C. until the end of November. The Republican and ally of President Donald Trump made the announcement Wednesday after sending roughly 200 troops to the nation’s capital in August.

Trump federalized the Metropolitan Police Department, allowing for hundreds of National Guard soldiers and federal agents to be deployed to police the streets of the capital. The president’s efforts to “beautify” D.C. followed the assault of 19-year-old Department of Government Efficiency employee Edward Coristin and a reported spike in violent crime in the city’s downtown, though local officials argue that criminal activity was on the decline.

Two weeks ago, the president’s control of Metropolitan Police expired, and Congress did not renew the 30-day takeover. However, members of the D.C. National Guard, which is under the commander-in-chief’s authority, will continue patrolling the streets alongside soldiers from counterparts in Mississippi and a handful of other Republican-led states.

Reeves commended the president’s efforts to “clean up Washington,” noting that, in his opinion, they are working.

“The brave men and women of the [Mississippi National Guard] have been instrumental in making that happen,” he wrote on X of the crime reduction campaign. “I’ve approved extending their deployment to November 30th.”

We all know the left will never give him credit, but @realDonaldTrump’s efforts to clean up Washington are working.

The brave men and women of the @nationalguardMS have been instrumental in helping make that happen.

I’ve approved extending their deployment to November 30th.

— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) September 24, 2025

Currently, more than 2,000 National Guard members are stationed throughout the nation’s capital, though they are not authorized to make arrests. Their efforts have primarily focused on removing trash and graffiti throughout the city, while their presence is believed to deter those considering committing crimes. Analysis from The Intercept found that the guard deployment, which the federal government is subsidizing, costs around $1 million per day.

While Reeves and Trump have lauded the federal takeover of Washington, D.C., the move has come with its detractors. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb has sued the Trump administration over deploying federal troops in the city, arguing that it is an illegal military occupation and an abuse of federal power.