Hundreds of West Virginia National Guard members will be deployed across the nation’s capital as part of the Trump administration’s effort to overhaul policing in the District of Columbia through a federal crackdown on crime and homelessness.

Republican Governor Patrick Morrisey announced Saturday that he was sending a contingent of 300 to 400 members.

“West Virginia is proud to stand with President Trump in his effort to restore pride and beauty to our nation’s capital,” Morrisey said.

The move comes as federal agents and National Guard troops begin to appear across the heavily Democratic city after Trump’s executive order on Monday, federalising local police forces and activating about 800 DC National Guard troops.

By adding outside troops to join those already assigned to Washington, President Donald Trump is exercising even tighter control over the city. It’s a power play that the president has justified as an emergency response to crime and homelessness, even though district officials have noted that violent crime is lower than it was during Trump’s first term in office.

A protest against Trump’s intervention drew scores to Dupont Circle on Saturday afternoon before a march to the White House, about 1.5 miles away. Demonstrators assembled behind a banner that said “No fascist takeover of DC”, and some in the crowd held signs that said “No military occupation”. Trump was at his Virginia golf club after Friday’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.