Hegseth Swears In Guard Troops To Clean Up D.C. As ‘Safe And Beautiful’ Mission Continues

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stood before the Washington Monument on Monday to administer the oath of enlistment to more than 100 National Guard members, marking a significant milestone for the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. The troops, representing nine states including Alabama, Florida, and Oklahoma, are part of a 2,600-strong contingent deployed to the capital following President Donald Trump’s August 2025 “crime emergency” declaration.

Hegseth hailed the mission as a historic success, saying the Task Force transformed Washington from a city of “lawlessness and graffiti” into a “national symbol of order.” The mission utilizes a dual-track approach:

• Aggressive Security: National Guard units, such as Task Force Yellow Hammer and Joint Task Force Magnolia, conduct joint patrols alongside local and federal law enforcement to secure transit hubs and neighborhoods, like Foggy Bottom.
• Urban Restoration: Beyond security operations, task force teams have removed more than 500 tons of debris and conducted major snow-clearing efforts to keep federal sites “pristine.”

Hegseth noted that while recruitment numbers are at a one-year high, strong retention rates among these Guard members are the true indicator of the War Department’s success.

“When you reenlist, it means we are doing things the right way,” Hegseth remarked, emphasizing that the military has the backs of those performing these “tough missions.”

Soldiers like Sgt. Christian N. Brown and Master Sgt. Michael E. Eschenfelder expressed deep pride in the mission. Eschenfelder, a 36-year veteran, noted that while his unit typically handles disaster response, such as hurricanes, the shift to urban security has been met with public gratitude, with residents reporting that they “can feel that everything is relaxing.”

The ceremony also carried a somber note of sacrifice. Hegseth announced Purple Hearts would be awarded to Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, posthumously, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who were shot during a November 2025 ambush at a D.C. Metro station. The attack underscored the administration’s justification for the federal takeover, which continues to face legal challenges from local D.C. officials over “Home Rule” violations.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Hegseth said the presence of the “men and women who defend the laws” is exactly what the nation’s capital deserves. The mission has been extended through at least February 28, 2026.