Washington, D.C. The Pentagon announced Friday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given the National Guard troops stationed in the District of Columbia permission to carry their guns while they patrol the city.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump stated that he is looking at additional military deployments to Democratic-led cities like Chicago, New York, and San Francisco and that he is thinking of announcing a national emergency to keep troops in the nation’s capital for longer than the 30-day period permitted by law.
The troops in the district would significantly increase their display of power if they carried firearms.
In accordance with their mission and training, (Guard) members who support the effort to reduce crime in our nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, per the Secretary of Defense’s directive, a Defense Department official told States Newsroom.
According to the Defense Department official, the final decision will be made by Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II, the D.C. National Guard’s interim commanding general, and any cooperation will take place with federal law enforcement and the D.C. Metropolitan Police.
More than 1,260 members from six Republican states have been asked to support Trump’s federal takeover of the 700,000-person district, which spans 62 square miles. There are now 800 soldiers of the D.C. National Guard in the district.
This week, National Guard men from the Republican-led states of West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee started to arrive in the district.
Whether the 2,060 members of the National Guard will use their service-issued weapons while on duty is unknown.
The modification is made just a few days before the district’s pupils start classes again.
States Newsroom asked the Pentagon if the National Guard men would be carrying handguns or rifles, but the Pentagon did not answer.
The M4 assault rifle, a variation of the AR-15, is usually a standard-issue weapon for the majority of the U.S. military.
Similar to the government seizure of the district, the Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that military deployments to Chicago, New York, and San Francisco might follow.
Trump declared, “After we do this, we’ll go to another location and we’ll make it safe also.” Chicago is in disarray, and we’ll likely fix that one next. After this, that will be our next one.
The president is the only person with jurisdiction over the National Guard members in the district because it is not a state.
Although the president federalized California’s National Guard earlier this summer to response to immigration protests, a test case for the employment of state-based armed forces, state governors still retain authority over their National Guard soldiers. Since then, the Guard has departed from Los Angeles.
Despite the fact that violent crime in the district is at a 30-year low, Trump proclaimed a crime emergency on August 11.
In order to employ the 3,400-member Metropolitan Police Department’s police force for immigration enforcement, the president also invoked the district’s Home Rule Act.
Troops from the National Guard have been dispatched to protect the district’s federal buildings, Metro stations, and the popular National Mall.
According to the Department of Defense source, the D.C. National Guard is still dedicated to protecting the District of Columbia and helping the people who live, work, and visit the District.
The president stated on Friday that he is thinking of announcing a national emergency to retain troops in the nation’s capital, although it is unclear how long the National Guard will stay in the district.
According to a spokeswoman for the Joint Task Force-District of Columbia, troops are now lodging in nearby hotels throughout the district.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he could keep the troops there for as long as he wanted if there was a national emergency.
Trump had earlier Friday expressed uncertainty about the length of time he would retain National Guard personnel in the district.
How long do we stay? That’s the major question. During another back-and-forth with reporters, Trump stated, “We want to make sure it doesn’t come back.” Therefore, we must deal with these offenders and free them.
Trump spoke to National Guard members and local and federal law enforcement officials Thursday at a U.S. Park Police facility in the Anacostia area neighborhood.
“You are amazing people,” Trump remarked. The nation runs because of you.
He congratulated them for their service and had White House personnel distribute pizza from a nearby restaurant and hamburgers he claimed were prepared inside the White House.
Wes Muller, a reporter for the Louisiana Illuminator, contributed to this article.
Last updated on August 22, 2025, at 5:31 p.m.
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