West Virginia National Guard troops are now being sent to Washington, DC, in an escalation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to federally take over law enforcement in the city.

Morrisey said the deployment includes hundreds of “skilled personnel” at the request of the Trump administration.

It was the first such action by the Guard since its deployment in Washington.

The West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) has been directed by Governor Patrick Morrisey to support President Trump’s federal takeover by deploying troops to Washington, D.C., at the request of the Trump administration.

Dressed in camouflage fatigues, National Guard troops patrolled areas of Washington Thursday, dispatched by President Donald Trump to police what he has called "out of control crime" in the city.

Around two dozen soldiers stood guard outside Washington, Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14. They had little to do.

A significantly larger National Guard presence is expected across Washington, D.C. starting Wednesday, as operations shift from evening patrols to around-the-clock deployment, according to a White House official.