By John Q. Hosedrinker On Tuesday morning, a full busload of National Guard members were observed cleaning up trash near the White House and other areas of Washington D.C. This beautification effort is part of a larger “D.C. Takeover” initiative. The Joint Task Force-DC office confirmed that this includes community restoration projects. While officials claim this is part of keeping D.C. safe and beautiful, critics have questioned the expenditure of resources on this mission, pointing out potential alternative uses for the funds.
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National Guard members activated for DC federal takeover seen picking-up trash, and it’s certainly generating some thoughts, isn’t it? It seems a bit of a head-scratcher, doesn’t it? Here we have these men and women, members of the National Guard, supposedly brought in to assist with something much more serious, yet they’re primarily engaged in a task as basic as picking up litter.
The whole situation feels like a bizarre mix of military protocol and civic duty. Apparently, in the military, if you’ve got time to spare, you clean. It’s a lesson drilled into soldiers: If there’s nothing else, pick up the trash. So, in a way, this is just following orders, a standard operating procedure. But the context… well, that’s where things get complicated.
From all the comments, the overriding sentiment is that this deployment, at its core, appears inefficient and, frankly, a bit ridiculous. One comment pointed out that this is costing a fortune, money that could be used far more effectively. The contrast of combat camouflage with bright orange vests as they pick up trash seems a bit oxymoronic.
Many people point out how they’d rather the National Guard be engaged in this seemingly simple activity than in more controversial actions like setting up checkpoints or conducting stop-and-frisk operations. This, at least, seems to be viewed as a public service, something arguably harmless, a better use of their time than enforcement duties without proper training.
There’s also a strong current of frustration running through this. Some National Guard members left their jobs and families, and were brought in for an indefinite period to Washington, only to find themselves picking up litter. The overall feeling is that this is not what they signed up for, that they were being used as props.
Others feel it is a blatant misuse of resources. It seems that the DC Public Works Union might be annoyed. Inmates or unemployed people could be hired, or homeless people could be employed, and be given a fair wage and stable housing, instead of calling the NG in for littering. It’s easy to see how this could be interpreted as an expensive, inefficient solution to a problem that could be handled more locally.
Some of the comments are cynical, of course. There’s a sense that this is performative, that it’s about optics, about creating an impression rather than tackling the bigger problems. And the irony isn’t lost on anyone that the “crime emergency” seems to be limited to misdemeanor littering. The FBI is apprehending fare evaders while the National Guard picks up trash, and so there’s a feeling that the big issues aren’t being addressed.
The focus, after all, is on a very visible issue. However, the larger questions, the root causes of crime, the lack of resources, are not being addressed. This leaves one with the impression that this is just playing at a solution, rather than actually implementing one.
There’s also an undercurrent of political commentary that’s hard to ignore. Some see this as a reflection of a lack of respect for the military, a way to use them as political tools. The feeling is that the National Guard is being used for an activity that would typically be handled by city workers or volunteers.
Yet even with the negative comments, there are those who see a silver lining in this scenario. If these men and women have time to lean, then they have time to clean. This kind of community service is seen as a relatively benign use of the National Guard’s time, particularly if the alternative is more intrusive law enforcement.
There is also a feeling of pity for the Guard. As one comment put it, they joined the military to serve their communities, and instead, they are being used as a prop.
The situation also raises questions about the role of the military in domestic affairs. What are the lines of authority? Where does the military’s jurisdiction begin and end? Who’s paying for it? All of these issues are valid and need consideration.
Ultimately, this is a complex situation with no easy answers. It highlights the complexities of the situation and raises many questions. While the National Guard may be cleaning up the streets, the deeper issues of crime and resource allocation remain. It is a great example of “cleaning up Washington and making it more beautiful,” one Starbucks cup at a time.