Former National Guard vice chief says deployment to D.C. "negatively impacts military readiness"

Interview
Written By David Petri

Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, USA (Ret.)

NPR

August 20, 2025

Republican governors in several states have deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. in response to what President Trump has called a "crime emergency," despite crime data showing the city recently hit a 30-year low. Critics, including former acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau Major Gen. Randy E. Manner, warn the move politicizes the Guard, undermines its mission, and intimidates communities. Manner explains why the Guard is not trained for policing and argues that using troops as a political tool weakens both public trust and military readiness.

David Petri

Dave Petri is a marketing and sustainability professional with 30 years of leadership experience across multiple industries. Since 2010, Dave’s professional experience has primarily been in the Outdoor Industry, including industry-wide leadership roles. He launched Cynosura Consulting in 2019 and is the principal consultant, providing his expertise to various companies and organizations in the manufacturing, hospitality, and event management sectors.

https://www.cynosurallc.com
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