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DCMHCA Statement on Federal Militarization & Threats to Community Mental Health in Washington, DCAugust 11, 2025 The DC Mental Health Counselors Association (DCMHCA) denounces the federal government’s alarming takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of nearly 800 National Guard troops to our city. Imposed without the consent of DC’s elected leadership, these actions represent a serious breach of local governance and continue a troubling pattern of militarization we've seen in other US cities. It is a step away from liberty and toward martial law. Earlier this summer, communities across Los Angeles were terrorized by the federal deployment of over 4,700 National Guard members and 700 Marines in response to protests against aggressive immigration raids. That federalization, which happened without the consent or permission of California's governor, rightfully raised alarms nationwide about federal overreach. While that deployment is still being challenged in courts, the federal government has decided again to send troops into an American city. However, because Washington, DC does not have statehood, its local government and citizens lack the same authority to challenge these actions in court as our counterparts in California have. As mental health counselors, we know of the psychological toll that such militarized responses inflict on communities, particularly communities of color, immigrants, queer and trans people, neurodivergent individuals, people with disabilities, the unhoused, and other historically marginalized groups. We are all too aware how this aggressive policing disproportionately targets marginalized communities and increases instances of profiling, bias, and identity-based violence. We are also aware of the danger of not looking deeply at reality; we spend our days helping our clients look deeply at their own lives to explore where growth and change is needed. The reality is clear: crime of all types, but especially violent crime, is at historic lows in DC. This action by the Trump administration is not based on the reality of our lives here in Washington, DC, but is rather an attempt to expand federal control and test the limits of our democracy and liberties. We call on our local leaders to continue to respond to this federal overreach with strength and unity: DC knows what DC needs. Our reality now is one where those with the most power betray their sacred duty to be honest, to nurture, and to support and instead turn to ideological sensationalism testing the limits of our systems of governance and democracy. Our local leadership must respond with strength and loyalty to our residents. The DC Mental Health Counselors Association calls for:
As mental health counselors, we know that true public safety is rooted in community trust, accessible resources, and equitable systems of care—not the deployment of military personnel against civilian populations. We also have an intimate understanding of the interconnected nature of humanity and that violence against one is violence against the whole. “Othering” is an existential violence against community and our shared human condition. We remain committed to advocating for policies that protect psychological safety, preserve democratic norms, and strengthen the resilience of all who call Washington, DC, home. DC Mental Health Counselors Association Executive Board Glen Bradley (they), President Mirna Amaya (she), President Elect Angele Moss Baker (she), Past President Contact the Executive Board: |