National Guard troops turn to custodial work, landscaping in DC

WASHINGTON — National Guard troops deployed to the nation’s capital are cleaning it up — literally.

A handful of soldiers were photographed by the Washington Post spreading mulch near the Tidal Basin on the National Mall as part of various “beautification” projects they’ve been tasked with since their DC deployment.

It’s unclear how many of the 2,200 Guard members dispatched to the District are assigned with such custodial work, which also includes picking up trash, removing graffiti and raking fallen leaves, according to the report published Wednesday.

Those outdoor cleaning duties are usually undertaken by the National Park Service, per the report, which cited staffing cuts that reduced its workforce in DC from 200 landscaping workers down to 20.

“It’s everybody — the masons, the maintenance workers, the groundskeepers, the plumbers. Every shop is short,” a National Park Service official told the outlet.

A White House official confirmed to The Post Wednesday that some troops are on clean-up duty.

“The National Guard is playing a variety of roles throughout our nation’s capital to support President Trump’s efforts to make DC safe and beautiful again,” the official said.

“Their efforts to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence, and participate in the beautification process reflect the Guard’s commitment to enhancing the safety and quality of life in the District,” the official said.

The joint federal-local task force in DC has identified more than 40 projects related to “beautification.”

None of the troops cleaning up are armed, though others patrolling Washington’s streets will be.

It’s not uncommon for the Guard to be involved in sanitation work — as members were during the COVID-19 pandemic — and the troops weren’t called in to do direct law enforcement actions as part of the crime crackdown.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said earlier this month that the troops had “broad latitude” to straighten out DC after being deployed by President Trump on Aug. 11, “but they’re not going to be involved in law enforcement functions.”

“They will be standing right alongside our federal agents,” Hegseth added. “They’re going to be proactive. If you take an action or a shot at them, there will be a consequence.” 

“We stand ready to support our partners in the National Capital Region and contribute to the collective effort of making our nation’s capital a clean and safe environment,” said Maj. Gen. Jim Seward of the West Virginia National Guard after the deployments began.

Trump signed an executive order that day mobilizing the DC National Guard, though soldiers from other Republican-led states have also shown up in Washington, as part of an effort aimed at “restoring law and order in the District of Columbia.”

The National Park Service directed The Post to the White House for comment. Reps for the Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.