D.C. Council members are pressing newly elected Democratic governors in five states to withdraw hundreds of National Guard troops deployed to Washington as part of a federal anti-crime operation.

Councilmember Brooke Pinto, chair of the public safety committee, announced the push during a public hearing last Thursday, two days after midterm elections flipped governorships in Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Texas. Those states account for roughly 628 of the approximately 3,100 National Guard members currently in the District.

Pinto said the incoming governors could order the withdrawals on their first day in office next year. She also urged incoming Democratic majorities in Congress to launch oversight of federal operations in the city and restrict federal personnel from wearing face coverings on D.C. streets.

The deployment began under President Trump to support local law enforcement amid concerns over crime. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently authorized expanded use of equipment including boats, marked police vehicles and Humvees for the Guard units.

D.C. residents and officials have raised objections to the presence of out-of-state troops, with some protests lasting hours at recent hearings. Pinto described the federal role as undermining local public safety goals.

None of the five governors-elect have publicly committed to recalling the troops, though some criticized the mission during their campaigns. Georgia, which has the largest contingent with over 500 members, is among the states involved.

The effort comes as Democrats seek to leverage election gains to challenge the Trump administration's law enforcement initiatives in the capital. Total Guard strength in D.C. stands near 3,098 as of early this month, according to Joint Task Force figures.