FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 5, 2026
CONTACT: media@freedcproject.org
Washington, DC — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has “authorized the National Guard to begin using boats, several dozen marked police cars, humvees and light medium tactical vehicles in the nation’s capital — an escalation of the Guard’s presence that could further blur the line between their military and law enforcement role.” [Politico]
In response to this escalation, Free DC issued the following statement:
"This is the act of an unpopular regime that is losing power by the minute and is desperate to avoid accountability. After 451 days of occupation we know these soldiers are in DC to protect the Trump regime, no one else.
"We denounce any expansion of the military in DC. Trump's occupation repeatedly violates the First, Third, and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution. DC residents and our duly elected officials call on every governor with troops in DC to recall your Guard members immediately and affirm your oath to the Constitution and the transfer of power it requires.
"The National Guard’s participation in Trump’s 'DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force' — which has killed multiple people and arrested more than 16,000 people here, often in ways that are unconstitutional — is a clear sign that DC's elected leaders need more power and autonomy.
"We call on governors to decline all requests for more soldiers, more weapons, or more tactical vehicles to the nation’s capital.
"We call on the next Congress to act immediately in January to give command of the DC National Guard to DC’s elected leaders.
"We celebrate the newly elected governors of Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas and urge you to recall your troops on Day 1 as commander in chief of your National Guard, so these women and men can serve the people of their home states, not terrorize DC communities.
"Not another guard in DC, not another tank, and no cooperation with the occupation. National Guard OUT NOW."
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