National Guard in the Nation’s Capital
The National Guard has been authorized to deploy to the streets of the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. In a memo to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. President Donald Trump cited violent crime as the reason for mobilizing federal troops to the city. According to the memo, the deployment will last until “conditions of law and order have been restored.” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser called the decision “unsettling and unprecedented,” and stated that violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low.
Analysis and eternal perspective: Washington, DC is unique among American cities in several ways, one of the most significant being it is not part of a state and in fact exists as a “federal district” created by Congress. In 1973, Congress passed the Home Rule Act, which gave the District operational control of most governing functions. However, Section 740 of the Act specifically allows the President to assume operational control of law enforcement in the District if “special conditions of an emergency nature exist.” A president then has 48 hours to explain the rationale of such a move to Congress, and 30 days to utilize that authority unless Congress passes legislation to extend it.
There are many who will find cause to object to the governing structure outlined above (including both those who would prefer DC have full statehood and, conversely, those who would like the federal authority over the District to be permanent). As The Equipped community, it will be important to consider developments in this story through the lens of what is rather than the lens of what we may wish it were.
Further, it is a perfect time for every Jesus follower to pray in accordance with 1 Tim. 2:1-2 for all leaders involved, including both President Trump and Mayor Bowser. This passage reminds us that leaders can pave the way for people to “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” There are many U.S. cities where major governing decisions require the bipartisan cooperation of leaders, but the residents of Washington, DC are particularly dependent on that possibility. Let’s together pray that all of DC’s leaders, both federal and local, act with the wellbeing of DC residents in mind.
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.