Fact check: In Washington DC, who has authority to deploy the National Guard?

1. Summary of the results

The command structure of the D.C. National Guard is uniquely different from other state National Guard units. While state Guards report to their governors, the D.C. National Guard's ultimate commander-in-chief is the President of the United States ^[1]. Through Executive Order 11485, this authority has been delegated to:

• The Secretary of Defense
• Further delegated to the Secretary of the Army and Air Force ^{[2] [1]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points need to be considered:

• This command structure dates back to a 1949 executive order signed by President Harry Truman ^[2]
• The arrangement is codified in § 49–409 of the D.C. Code ^[1]
• There are only three entities that can activate the D.C. National Guard:

1. The President

2. The Defense Secretary

3. The U.S. Army Secretary ^[3]

A real-world example of this authority structure in action occurred when Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller made the decision to deploy the D.C. National Guard after consulting with Vice President Mike Pence ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself is straightforward, but there are common misconceptions that should be addressed:

• Unlike other jurisdictions, members of Congress, including the House Speaker, have no authority to deploy the D.C. National Guard ^[3]
• The command structure is not a recent development but has been in place since 1949 ^[2]
• This unique arrangement reflects D.C.'s special status as a federal district rather than a state, which creates a distinct chain of command compared to other National Guard units ^[1]