The leader of the District of Columbia National Guard has been told to step down the minute after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, sparking political controversy about who ordered the decision and the timing of the departure. “I’ll see them off, but I won’t be able to welcome them back to the armory.”However, the head of the District's National Guard serves at the pleasure of the president, unlike the commanders of state-level National Guard units. A senior Defense official also told Fox that the Army was neither consulted nor notified about the Schwartz decision. But Phil Mendelson, a Democrat and chairman of the D.C. Council, is also questioning the timing of the move. Gen. William J. Walker, who is in the D.C. National Guard and will be the incoming acting commanding general.

Source: Fox News January 14, 2017 06:35 UTC