National Guard units deployed in Washington, D.C., as part of the Trump administration’s initiative to reduce violent crime have received authorization to carry firearms, according to an announcement by the D.C. National Guard. It has been reported that some troops are already seen armed while on patrol.
The Guard said on Saturday it had formally authorized members supporting Joint Task Force–DC to carry their service-issued M17 pistols.
Interim commander Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard stated that the decision followed guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and was made in collaboration with local and federal law enforcement agencies. The Guard emphasized that the weapons are solely for personal protection and that strict protocols for using force, including de-escalation methods, are in place.
“This decision is not something taken lightly,” Blanchard remarked. “We are working in coordination with our law enforcement partners, and all relevant review processes have been implemented.”
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump activated the National Guard in Washington, D.C., as a strategy to address violent crime in the capital. According to a spokesperson for the Joint Task Force, nearly 2,300 Guard soldiers and airmen from Washington, D.C., and six states are currently mobilized.
Under direct orders from the president, Guard members have been assigned to monuments, checkpoints, and traffic stops throughout all eight wards, with the mission of deterring crime and ensuring a visible security presence. Their presence patrols extend across the city, including locations like Metro stations, Union Station, the National Mall, and in cooperation with the U.S. Park Police.
A Defense Department official informed Fox News Digital on Monday that members of Joint Task Force–DC would soon deploy with service-issued weapons, aligned with their training and aimed at assisting in reducing the crime rate in the nation’s capital.
The official said the Guard’s interim commander can adjust how those forces are used in coordination with D.C. police and federal law enforcement partners.
Touting the operation’s success — at least 465 arrests have been made — Trump has signaled he intends to broaden the D.C. mission to other cities. “We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to then go on to other places,” he told federal agents and Guard troops Thursday at a D.C. patrol center.
South Carolina National Guard members, authorized to carry firearms, are seen patrolling near Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey Jr.)
On Friday, Trump added, “I think Chicago will be our next. And then we’ll help with New York.”
Officials have also linked the D.C. operation to beautification efforts ahead of next year’s 250th Independence Day celebration.
