Republican Gov. Phil Scott declines request to send Vermont's National Guard to DC [View all]

Source: Scripps News

Posted 11:57 AM, Aug 18, 2025


Vermont's Republican Governor Phil Scott declined a request from the federal government to send his state's National Guard soldiers to Washington, D.C. to assist with President Donald Trump's controversial efforts to stop crime in the city.

According to Vermont Public, Scott turned down a preliminary inquiry from the Pentagon to send "a few dozen" soldiers to the capital city.

Last week, President Trump signed an executive order to take control of Washington's police department and activated hundreds of National Guard troops in an effort to combat crime and homelessness in the city — something the president claimed is out of control despite statistics showing that violent crime is lower in the city compared to recent years.

Scott's chief of staff reportedly told Vermont Public that "the governor just does not support utilizing the guard for this purpose, and does not view the enforcement of domestic law as a proper use of the National Guard.”

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/republican-gov-phil-scott-declines-request-to-send-vermonts-national-guard-to-dc