WASHINGTON — National Guard troops deployed to the nation’s capital are cleaning it up — literally.

A handful of soldiers were photographed by the Washington Post spreading mulch near the Tidal Basin on the National Mall as part of various “beautification” projects they’ve been tasked with since their DC deployment.

It’s unclear how many of the 2,200 Guard members dispatched to the District are assigned with such custodial work, which also includes picking up trash, removing graffiti and raking fallen leaves, according to the report published Wednesday. 3

Those outdoor cleaning duties are usually undertaken by the National Park Service, per the report, which cited staffing cuts that reduced its workforce in DC from 200 landscaping workers down to 20.

“It’s everybody — the masons

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