In a scene that has baffled observers and sparked political controversy, members of the esteemed National Guard have been photographed undertaking the most mundane of civic duties: gardening.
Images circulating online show uniformed military personnel, reportedly from the DC National Guard, kneeling on the grounds of the iconic Tidal Basin. Their task? Manually weeding flower beds and picking up litter, a far cry from their typical defence and emergency response obligations.
A Surreal Use of Military Resources
The photographs, verified by several sources, have triggered a wave of criticism from lawmakers and military analysts. Many are questioning the justification for using highly trained soldiers for basic landscaping work traditionally handled by municipal groundskeepers or the National Park Service.
Critics argue that this deployment represents a significant waste of taxpayer money and a misallocation of critical military resources. The cost of housing, feeding, and paying a Guardsman far exceeds that of a civilian gardener, making the operation fiscally questionable.
Official Silence and Public Backlash
Requests for an official statement from the National Guard regarding the specific orders and rationale behind this duty have so far been met with limited detail. This lack of transparency has only fuelled public scepticism and outrage on social media platforms.
Many commentators have expressed that the sight of servicemen and women performing such tasks is undignified and undermines the serious purpose of the National Guard. The debate touches on broader issues of military funding, the role of the armed forces in domestic settings, and the management of Washington DC's public spaces.
As the story develops, the central question remains: who ordered the weeding detail, and why were National Guard troops deemed the right fit for the job?
