National Guard Now Carrying Firearms in DC

The National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C., will begin carrying weapons on Sunday evening just two days after given authorization by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The deployment aims to combat crime in the city, even as crime rates have reached a 30-year low, marking one of the most aggressive federal interventions in local law enforcement in recent history.

The deployment has prompted strong backlash due to the fact the administration bypassed the city's elected leaders, who have variously described Trump's directive as "unsettling," "unprecedented" and "dangerous."

A Joint Task Force-DC (JTF-DC) spokesperson told Newsweek that service members were cleared to start carrying their service-issue weapons on Sunday evening, and that they were to only use them "as a last resort and solely in response to an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm."

"Task force personnel operate under the established Rules for the Use of Force," the spokesperson said, adding that the force "remains committed to protecting the safety and wellbeing of the residents of the District of Columbia."

Hegseth on Friday authorized National Guard troops deployed into the city to use weapons, but the final decision to carry those weapons, telling Newsweek on Friday that authority remains with the Interim Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard "to make any necessary force posture adjustments."

As of Friday, JTF-DC had told Newsweek that there was "no change in our arming posture." It remains unclear what had changed as of Sunday evening to warrant a change in arming posture.

The order applies to all service who are members of the Task Force, which will total around 2,000 troops, including those deployed by states to bolster the baseline 800 troops Trump deployed to the capital.

That includes 300 to 400 troops from West Virginia, 200 troops from South Carolina, 150 troops from Ohio, 135 troops from Louisiana, 200 troops from Mississippi, and 160 troops from Tennessee.

What People Are Saying

President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Washington, D.C. is SAFE AGAIN! The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard and Police are doing a fantastic job. They are out in force, and are NOT PLAYING GAMES!!! As bad as it sounds to say, there were no murders this week for the first time in memory. Mayor Muriel Bowser must immediately stop giving false and highly inaccurate crime figures, or bad things will happen, including a complete and total Federal takeover of the City! Washington D.C. will soon be great again!!!"

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser earlier this month wrote on X: "Violent crime in DC is at its lowest level in 30 years. We had an unacceptable spike in 2023, so we changed our laws and strategies. Now, crime levels are not only down from 2023, but from before the pandemic. Our tactics are working, and we aren't taking our foot off the gas."