The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump's administration will request the deployment of 500 additional National Guard personnel in Washington, D.C., after two members of that force were seriously injured in a terrorist attack near the White House.
The incident, which took place at the intersection of 17th Street and I Street, reignited tensions regarding security in the capital and the federal presence in the city.
During an official visit to the Dominican Republic, Hegseth reported that President Trump requested to reinforce the security operation with more troops and that he would formally submit the request to the Secretary of the Army.
"President Trump has asked me, and I will request the Secretary of the Army, that the National Guard add 500 additional personnel to Washington, D.C.," the secretary stated to the media.
According to him, the measure aims to consolidate the security gains achieved since the massive deployment of the National Guard began in the city. "The drop in crime has been historic. The increase in security has been historic," Hegseth stated, adding that this type of attack will not diminish the federal government's determination.
Local authorities confirmed that the terrorist was apprehended shortly after the shooting. The D.C. Metropolitan Police indicated that both guards were transported to nearby hospitals in critical condition, although information about their progress has been contradictory.
The governor of West Virginia, Patrick Morrisey, initially stated that both members belonged to that state's National Guard and that they had died. However, minutes later he corrected himself, stating that his office had received contradictory reports and that he would wait for official confirmation before issuing a definitive update.
