Michigan governor threatens to pull troops from D.C. if used for Trump task force

Members of the National Guard stand in front of a large image of U.S. President Donald Trump that hangs from the the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building on May 18, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America hide caption

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 purposes as part of the larger ongoing federal joint task force operation. All four states have been clear about their opposition to the Trump administration's ongoing deployment of National Guard troops to D.C., filing an amicus brief in support of litigation challenging it as recently as May .

But in recent days, a video of troops identifying themselves as Michigan National Guard members patrolling the Georgetown waterfront — an upscale neighborhood more than a mile away from any official America 250 celebrations — began circulating on social media. NPR has authenticated the video. Whitmer's office did not immediately respond to NPR's request to verify that the troops were Michigan members.

All state guard members are currently in D.C. under Title 32 status , which essentially means that the federal government pays for the deployment, but the state governors maintain control and command of their troops. But former National Guard officials say it's impractical for states to play a role in day-to-day activities in a complex national mission like what's happening in D.C.

"If the National Guard has defined the America 250 Mission to extend beyond direct support for events celebrating the nation's 250th anniversary, please let me know so we can ensure the Michigan National Guard's efforts are carefully limited," Gov. Whitmer's letter reads.

It goes on to say that if that can't be ensured, then Gov. Whitmer will "end Michigan's support for the America 250 mission."

Legal experts, like those at the Brennan Center for Justice who have closely been watching Trump's ongoing deployment to D.C., worry that drawing a distinction between the America 250 celebration and the general mission of the joint task force in the city will prove difficult. The joint task force is largely carrying out high visibility presence patrols in residential neighborhoods, public parks and metro stations.

Troops from all four Democratic-led states are listed as part of the official federal joint task force numbers released to the public . Gov. Whitmer said the Michigan troops should not be included in that count.

The offices for other Democratic governors NPR reached out to about that list also said their guard members shouldn't be included.

When asked about the confusion, a spokesperson for the joint task force told NPR that it is overseeing all guard members in D.C. for organizational purposes, but being on the list "does not change their specific mission." The joint task force did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment as to why Michigan guard members were apparently in Georgetown, and if that was part of the America 250 operations.