The Republican governors of West Virginia, South Carolina and Ohio announced Saturday they will send National Guard troops to Washington, DC, in an escalation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to federally take over law enforcement in the city.

Six states have pledged to send troops to Washington, D.C., swelling the number of National Guard brought to support federal law enforcement.

Deployments by troops from Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia will nearly double the force that Trump has deployed amid a crackdown on crime.

We stand ready to support our partners in the National Capital Region and contribute to the collective effort of making our nation’s capital a clean and safe environment,” the