Kat Lonsdorf

President Trump's deployment of the National Guard hits the one year mark next week. The presence of armed, uniformed troops on the street has become increasingly normalized in the capital.

As the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., hits the one year mark, experts worry about the potential for President Trump to deploy the military during the upcoming election.

As the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., hits the one year mark, experts worry about the potential for President Trump to deploy the military during the upcoming election.

The National Guard's presence has become routine in D.C., but there's nothing routine about questions over the role the troops could play in the upcoming midterms.

The National Guard's presence has become routine in D.C., but there's nothing routine about questions over the role the troops could play in the upcoming midterms.

As President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., enters its second year, three guard members who served many months on the mission share their thoughts with NPR.

As President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., enters its second year, three guard members who served many months on the mission share their thoughts with NPR.

Kat Lonsdorf is reporter for NPR, often covering national security and international stories. She is based in Washington, D.C.

Kat Lonsdorf | August 24, 2026 As the sight of armed, uniformed National Guard troops became ubiquitous in Washington, D.C. over the past

As President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., enters its second year, three guard members who served many months on the mission share their reactions with NPR.