National Guard in D.C. Authorized to Carry Firearms Amid Crime Surge Efforts
National Guard in D.C. Authorized to Carry Firearms Amid Crime Surge Efforts
WASHINGTON — National Guard troops deployed to Washington this month to support President Donald Trump’s initiative to mitigate crime have begun carrying firearms. This significant shift in posture was confirmed by a Defense Department official privy to the planning, stating that the arming began Sunday evening.
The majority of the guard members are equipped with their service-issued M17 pistols, while a smaller contingent carries M4 rifles. Federal task force guidelines authorize weapon use strictly for self-protection and as a last resort against imminent threats of death or serious bodily harm. On Sunday evening, armed National Guard troops, identifiable by ‘MP’ patches, were observed patrolling D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood.
The authorization for approximately 2,000 National Guard troops in D.C. to carry weapons was issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday. Previously, guard members were unarmed, assisting law enforcement with community safety patrols, traffic control, and crowd management. The federal task force is also evaluating a request from local police for an increased Guard presence at metro locations, coinciding with the start of the school year for many D.C. area schools.
The Army has affirmed that all Guard members receive comprehensive and ongoing training, including annual weapons qualifications, prior to carrying firearms. A White House official clarified that despite being armed, the National Guard troops in D.C. are not authorized to make arrests. Their primary focus remains protecting federal assets and providing a secure environment for law enforcement officers to conduct arrests.
Over 2,200 National Guard soldiers and airmen, predominantly from out-of-state, have been deployed to D.C. as part of Trump’s concerted effort against crime and homelessness. This deployment occurred despite D.C. police data indicating a roughly 27% year-over-year drop in violent crime at the time of the initial troop deployment this month. Nearly 70% of the Guard members are from outside the district, with several Republican state leaders, notably West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, sending hundreds of troops in support of Trump’s initiative.
Democrats have criticized the deployment, labeling it partisan and accusing Trump of using scare tactics to exert presidential authority, particularly targeting cities with Black leadership. Trump further escalated tensions on Sunday, threatening to deploy the military to Baltimore after a public spat with Democratic Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, whom he characterized as overseeing a ‘crime-ridden’ city. Trump stated on Truth Social that he would send in ‘troops’ to quickly ‘clean up the Crime’ if Moore required assistance, referencing the ongoing deployment in D.C.
The deployment of the National Guard to cities like D.C. for such purposes is historically unusual, as the force is typically reserved for natural disaster response and civil unrest.
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