WASHINGTON, D.C.— In a strongly worded letter to the head of Michigan's National Guard, Gov.
Gretchen Whitmer reiterated troops from her state are only to be used for operations surrounding America 250 celebrations in Washington, D.C., and not for President Trump's long-running — and controversial — joint task force to fight crime.She said that she would pull her troops from the city if that is not the case, in the letter obtained by NPR."Please take all necessary measures to ensure the Michigan National Guard is only supporting the narrow and limited America 250 Mission and is in no way supporting the D.C.
Safe and Beautiful Mission," wrote Gov.Whitmer, referencing the official name for the federal task force.Trump deployed hundreds of troops to Washington, D.C., in August of 2025, in what experts said was a stunning departure from governing norms.
He said he did so to address rampant crime, despite declining crime rates at the time.The number of troops in the city has increased over time to more than 4,800 from Washington, D.C.
and almost two dozen states, which until recently were exclusively Republican-led.Michigan — which has 161 guard members currently in the city — is one of four Democratic-led states that sent members of their National Guard to D.C.in recent weeks, ahead of an influx of tourists for America 250 celebrations.
North Carolina and Kentucky each sent one member of their guard, while Minnesota sent more than a hundred last week.Kentucky confirmed to NPR Monday that it had recalled its one guard member over the weekend, after that member was "diverted to the task force by the federal government without the knowledge or consent of Gov.Beshear of the Kentucky Guard," Scottie Ellis, a spokesperson for Gov.
Beshear, wrote to NPR in an email.When contacted by NPR, spokespeople for each respective Democratic governor's office made it clear that their guard members were sent to help specifically with America 250, not for law enforcement pu...