National Guard troops now on DC streets told to maintain presence near National Mall

National Guard troops called on to active-duty by President Donald Trump arrived at the footsteps of the Washington Monument on Tuesday as part of his plan to address what he insists is "out of control" crime in the nation's capital. Col. Dave Butler, an Army spokesperson, said the troops were called on to help local law enforcement with logistics support, transportation and administration duties, as well as being visible around the National Mall. "That's part of our assignment – to go to the national monuments and be present," he told ABC News. The deployment of troops on U.S. soil is legal to an extent, with the president holding the power to wrangle service members in times of extraordinary crisis. But their duties are also limited to protecting federal personnel and federal property un