D.C. Schools Reopen Amid Armed National Guard Deployment
Parents express fear and uncertainty as federal troops patrol Washington, D.C., during the first day of school under Trump’s law-and-order push.
Washington, August 25 EST: Public schools reopened in the nation’s capital on Monday, but the return to classrooms was anything but routine. Parents dropped off children under the watchful eyes of heavily armed National Guard troops and federal officers, part of an unprecedented security surge ordered by the Trump administration.
The atmosphere was described as uneasy, with many families questioning whether the government’s crackdown on crime has turned their neighborhoods and now their schools into militarized zones.
Armed Troops Patrol School Routes
According to the Associated Press, more than 2,000 National Guard members have been deployed across Washington, D.C.. While some remain unarmed, a significant number are now carrying handguns and rifles, operating under strict rules of engagement that allow force only in response to imminent threats.
The decision to arm troops came directly from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has defended the move as necessary to combat violent crime in the city. In an interview last week, Hegseth said the goal was to establish “visible deterrence” in areas where residents had lost faith in traditional policing.
Still, the visual of soldiers stationed at Metro stops, street corners, and near schools has sparked backlash from Mayor Muriel Bowser and local leaders. “Our schools should be sanctuaries of learning, not occupied by troops,” Bowser said Monday, urging the administration to rethink its approach.
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Parents Grapple With Anxiety
For many parents, the timing of the deployment coinciding with the first day of school has compounded anxieties. Some families have kept their children home, fearing potential clashes between residents and troops.
As reported by AP, immigrant communities in particular are deeply unsettled. Many worry the high-profile military presence could be paired with immigration enforcement actions, despite federal assurances that the Guard is not coordinating with ICE. One parent described the commute to school as “feeling like walking through a checkpoint.”
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A Federal Takeover Still in Dispute
The heightened troop presence comes against the backdrop of President Trump’s takeover of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department earlier this month under Section 740 of the Home Rule Act. That move shifted control of the police force from the city’s mayor to federal authority, an action unprecedented in the city’s modern history.
The Washington Post reported that the decision has ignited a fierce legal battle, with local officials arguing that the federalization of the police undermines D.C.’s limited home rule and effectively silences local governance. Lawsuits are moving through the courts, though outcomes remain uncertain.
For now, the practical result is a city whose public safety apparatus is directed not by local leaders but by the Trump administration, with Guard troops supplementing regular patrols.
Altered Daily Life Across the District
On Monday morning, parents and students reported longer commutes and disrupted routines as school drop-offs were slowed by uniformed patrols. Some Metro stations had armed Guard members stationed inside, while armored vehicles were spotted near certain school zones.
Teachers have been briefed on how to address student questions about the presence of soldiers outside their classrooms, according to ABC News. School counselors are preparing for a rise in anxiety among younger students, who may struggle to process the sight of rifles outside their schoolyards.
The federal government has insisted the measures are temporary. Still, few in the city believe the troops will leave soon, with many viewing the deployment as an open-ended extension of Trump’s broader law-and-order push.
A City Waiting for Clarity
For D.C. families, the questions now are both immediate and long-term. How long will the Guard remain on patrol? Will the federal government expand its role in local law enforcement? And what does this mean for the city’s already fragile trust in policing?
For now, the first day of school ended without major incidents. But the broader unease lingers. “It’s hard to tell your child everything is normal,” one parent told NBC4 Washington, “when they’re walking past soldiers with guns on their way to third grade.”
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A political science PhD who jumped the academic ship to cover real-time governance, Olivia is the East Coast's sharpest watchdog. She dissects power plays in Trenton and D.C. without bias or apology.
