Updated Nov. 17, 2025, at 10:05 a.m.

Officials have met twice with the National Guard since President Donald Trump deployed troops across D.C. in August to clarify campus access rules and posted signs reiterating that access to certain spaces is restricted to GWorld cardholders, a University spokesperson confirmed.

Students last month reported guard troops stationed inside Duques Hall — which is GWorld tap access restricted — the Gelman Library entrance vestibule and the Mitchell Hall Chick-fil-A and said officials were not adequately communicating with the community about campus safety policies regarding troops on campus. Officials in their weekly federal update email Thursday said they are in “close communication” with guard leadership, and officials added signage in the University Student Center to inform community members that certain floors are only accessible to GWorld card holders and their guests — signaling that guard troops are not permitted to enter certain floors. 

University spokesperson Julia Garbitt declined to comment on who initiated the meetings, when exactly the meetings started and which specific GW and guard officials were involved in the conversations. No further meetings are scheduled, a University spokesperson confirmed.

Georgetown, American, Howard and Catholic universities as well as University of the District of Columbia did not respond to a request for comment on whether they have met with the guard. 

Garbitt said public streets and sidewalks that run through campus fall under both federal and local jurisdiction, but only authorized community members can enter buildings that require GWorld access. She said the guard has confirmed their understanding that they are not to enter private property, but students should still make sure doors close behind them when entering campus buildings that require tap access. 

“GW safety officials have met with National Guard leadership and discussed the distinction between public and private University property,” Garbitt said in an email. “National Guard leadership has confirmed they understand Guard members are not to enter private property.”

The update states signs are now located on the lower level, ground, second, fourth and fifth floors of the USC, while the first floor remains open to the public. Officials installed the signs in response to community feedback and to make students feel safer amid heightened federal law enforcement presence in the District, according to the update. 

Officials have previously stated federal officers cannot enter the University’s private property without a warrant.

The USC first floor is open to the public seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, the USC requires GWorld tap access to enter. Tap access is not required to move between floors, making the enforcement of certain floors as private spaces unclear.

“Access to this floor is limited to GWorld card holders and their escorted guests,” the signs read.

Officials have installed similar signage around other academic buildings and some residence halls throughout the semester including District House, Strong Hall, Corcoran Hall and the School of Media and Public Affairs building.

Businesses around the country have also put up signs to deter Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from entering, which restaurant-owners in Foggy Bottom said has been a source of anxiety for their staff. Storefronts in Richmond, Virginia installed signs reading “ICE IS NOT WELCOME HERE” starting in August, and businesses in Evanston, Illinois put up signs reading “FEDERAL AGENTS DO NOT HAVE CONSENT TO ENTER” this month as ICE enforcement rises in the state.

Trump first deployed the National Guard to D.C. Aug. 11 as part of his crackdown on crime in the city, but troop presence in Foggy Bottom — located in Ward 2 and one of the lowest violent crime areas in the District — was initially sparse. However, last month, students noticed an uptick of troops in and around campus spaces, like Gelman, Duques Hall, the Mitchell Hall Chick-fil-A and in Kogan, which they said made them feel uneasy and want clearer communication from officials about where troops are allowed on campus.

Student Government Association President Ethan Lynne held up a picture of guard troops inside Duques Hall, which requires tap access, at a Board of Trustees meeting last month, demanding University officials work to make students feel safe on campus. 

“In addition to increased signage and enforcing authorized-only GWorld access to campus buildings, the University continues to evaluate each event in the current threat environment and work with external partners to determine and adjust security measures as appropriate,” Garbitt said. 

SGA officials also fielded student concerns about guard presence last month, with SGA Vice President Liz Stoddard saying officials should make it clear to the community that the guard is not allowed on campus and create a reporting mechanism for students to report troops in buildings so GW Police Department can remove them.

Garbitt said students who see federal officials attempting to enter GW facilities should contact the GWPD and refer to the University’s posted resources on what to do in the case of unannounced federal personnel visits. 

Students also protested last month, reiterating demands that GW declare itself a sanctuary campus, which would require GW to institute policies aimed at limiting the University’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and ban federal law enforcement from campus spaces. 

About 10 guard troops showed up in Kogan at the start of the protest, though they left after a speaker in the crowd mentioned the presence of guard troops in the city.

About 2,300 guard troops from eight states and D.C. remain in the District since Trump’s August order to deploy the guard to “rescue” the city from violent crime, which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth extended until the end of February last week to “protect federal property” and support federal and D.C. law enforcement. 

The extension comes amid a lawsuit from D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb aimed at withdrawing the guard troops. A federal judge heard arguments from both the D.C. and federal governments last month but has yet to rule on whether the troops can stay. 

Garbitt said officials are aware of the instances of guard troops stationed on campus and entering a campus building and said when officials become aware of federal officials in University facilities, they immediately follow up with the appropriate authorities. 

“GW safety officials will remain in communication with the Guard to discuss any concerns received from our community,” Garbitt said.

This post has been updated to clarify the following. 

This post has been updated to clarify that the lower level, ground, second, fourth and fifth floors of the University Student Center are accessible to GWorld card holders and their escorted guests.