GOP States Sending Troops to DC: How Their Cities’ Crime Rates Compare

Six Republican-led states are sending hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., to support President Donald Trump‘s “crime crackdown,” even though some of those states have cities with crime rates higher than the nation’s capital, according to FBI and local police data.

Why It Matters

Earlier this month, Trump announced that National Guard troops will be stationed in Washington, D.C., to “reestablish law, order and public safety.” As of Monday evening, six states have agreed to send troops to D.C. in support: West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina and Ohio.

About 800 National Guard members had already been activated in D.C. before additional state authorizations.

Trump’s efforts build on a previously signed executive order titled “Making The District of Columbia Safe And Beautiful,” an order that seeks to reduce crime in D.C., among other measures.

What To Know

The FBI released data this month showing that over 14 million criminal offenses occurred across the country in 2024, but that various crimes nationwide decreased compared to previous years.

Compared to the most populated states like California, New York, and Texas, Washington, D.C., also appears to have a higher rate of crime against persons, according to the FBI data.

According to data released by the Metropolitan police, there were 29,348 total reported crimes in the capital in 2024. Of those, 3,469 were classified as violent crimes, with 187 homicides reported, and 25,879 were identified as property crimes.

Crime levels in D.C. both exceed and trail those in certain cities from the six Republican-led states contributing National Guard troops.

Tennessee

At least two Tennessee cities had higher rates of violent and property crime than Washington, D.C., last year. Memphis reported 15,338 violent crimes last year, including 249 cases of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, according to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. The city also recorded 42,305 property crimes.

The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department reported 7,857 violent crimes in 2024, more than Washington, D.C., but recorded fewer murders, with 102. Nashville also logged 31,521 property crimes, a higher total than the…