Ohio Guard Troops Return Home After Washington Deployment

The 150 Ohio National Guard soldiers have returned from Washington, D.C., where they were deployed to support a federal crime‑control initiative.

Background

• August: Governor Mike DeWine, alongside other Republican leaders, sent state troops to the capital.
• Public Concern: Some Ohio residents feared federal forces might override local authority without approval.

Governor DeWine’s Position

• Defended the deployment as a necessary decision.
• Stated it mirrored actions taken by other states.
• Extended Ohio’s deployment period through February.

Recent Developments

• March 2: A guard spokesperson confirmed the troops had returned to Ohio in February.
• While stationed in Washington, they patrolled streets and guarded federal buildings.

Financial Context

• Exact cost of Ohio’s deployment remains unclear.
• The Federal Government spent $496 million in 2025 on National Guard deployments across multiple cities (CBO data).
• These funds are sourced from taxpayers nationwide, not state budgets.

Impact on Crime Rates

• President Trump lauded the deployments as a success in his recent State of the Union address, claiming Washington’s crime rates had dropped dramatically.
• Official data from the Metropolitan Police Department shows a 63 % decline in violent incidents, including homicides, in 2026 compared to the previous year.
• Washington had already recorded a 30‑year low in violent crime in 2024 before the Guard’s arrival.