As schools reopen across Washington, D.C. this week, Mayor Muriel Bowser has voiced strong opposition to President Donald Trump’s deployment of over 2,000 National Guard troops to the city, calling the move unnecessary and counterproductive for students returning to the classroom.

“We don’t need federal agencies to help get kids to school,” Bowser said in an interview. “We will take care of getting our kids to school.”

City officials highlighted that the upcoming academic year begins amid encouraging academic gains. According to the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), student proficiency rates in English language arts and math have reached their highest levels since before the COVID-19 pandemic, with ELA scores reaching a new record.

Roughly 100,000 students are expected to return to D.C. schools on Monday. However, the heightened federal law enforcement presence—initiated as part of Trump’s broader crime crackdown—has raised new concerns, particularly after a recent accident involving a military-style vehicle. National Guard troops are expected to be stationed at Metro stops, a key transportation mode for many students.

To reassure families, Bowser pointed to the city’s existing safety infrastructure, including the Safe Passage program, which places local law enforcement along common school routes. Additionally, the Safe Connect program offers students escorted rides to school if families feel unsafe.

“We have systems in place,” Bowser said, adding that the city had already seen a significant drop in crime prior to the federal deployment. “I don’t think we have an armed militia in the nation’s capital.”

Despite her objections, some local officials acknowledged the impact of the federal assistance. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said that both officers and community members have noted improvements in neighborhood safety since the arrival of federal agents.

“Some of them have found it to be very helpful,” Smith said.

President Trump has framed the troop deployment as part of a wider strategy to combat crime in Democrat-led cities, including Washington, D.C. and Chicago. He has argued that the presence of National Guard units brings “total safety” to urban communities—a claim city leaders continue to dispute.