More National Guard Troops Deploy to D.C. with Weapons Ready

Increased National Guard Presence in Washington, D.C.

More National Guard troops are being sent to Washington, D.C., and they are preparing to carry weapons in the coming days, according to officials. This development marks a significant shift that follows President Trump’s announcement of deploying the National Guard to “take back” the capital from what he described as violent criminals.

Previously, defense officials stated that the 800 National Guard soldiers deployed would not be armed, unlike many federal law-enforcement agents sent to the capital. They also were not to have weapons in their vehicles. The U.S. Army mentioned in a press release that “weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory.”

Late Friday, some Guard members deployed to Washington were informed that an order to carry weapons might soon come, according to people familiar with the planning. However, as of Saturday morning, no formal order had been issued, according to a Defense Department official.

Three states have agreed to send National Guard troops to Washington at the request of the Trump administration. West Virginia plans to send 300 to 400 troops, South Carolina is set to send 200, and Ohio will deliver 150. These governors, all Republicans, announced this on Saturday.

A White House official mentioned that while additional National Guard troops may be called to the district and could be armed, they are not making arrests at this time. The official noted that on Friday night, Guard soldiers conducted roving patrols on foot and in vehicles around the National Mall.

The Pentagon spokeswoman directed questions to the Army, but an Army spokesman did not respond to the request for comment.

Since arriving in Washington on Tuesday, National Guard troops have primarily served as a visible presence in public areas, according to defense officials. They have taken on administrative and logistical duties, as well as “area beautification” work.

Some military vehicles were parked on the National Mall, while others stationed Humvees outside Union Station, where train travelers with suitcases waited for taxis. Meanwhile, federal officers have been conducting law-enforcement duties and patrols around the city as part of Trump’s security surge.

Pentagon officials stated that the National Guard troops are trained in de-escalation techniques and would serve similarly to how they did in Los Angeles in June. At that time, Trump deployed over 4,000 National Guard members, 700 Marines, and other federal agents in response to protests against raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Their deployment led to backlash when images circulated of National Guard vehicles parked near immigration checkpoints, and U.S. Marines supporting ICE teams.

Local officials in Washington expressed similar concerns, warning that the National Guard lacks the necessary public-safety training and that involving the military in civilian law enforcement was unwarranted and potentially dangerous.

“National Guard soldiers are trained for warfare and natural disasters, not for community policing,” said District Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, accusing Trump of “trying to create compelling TV.”

Agents from ICE, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration have participated in arrests and patrols around the district, leading to protests and backlash in some communities.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested that Guard members should play an active role. “We’re not going to have National Guards sitting there like this,” he said in a Fox News interview, crossing his arms, “seeing a crime committed and not do something about it.”

Trump was flanked by Hegseth when he announced the deployment of the National Guard to Washington and placed the city’s police department under federal control. He claimed he was taking drastic measures to restore law and order, describing the nation’s capital as being “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals.”

While local officials acknowledge ongoing issues, data from the Justice Department show that violent crime in the District of Columbia decreased by 35% last year compared to 2023, the lowest in over 30 years. The data showed declines in homicides, robberies, armed carjackings, and assaults with dangerous weapons.

Unlike state National Guards, which answer to governors unless they are federalized, the National Guard in the district reports directly to the president through the defense and Army secretaries. Trump’s order to Hegseth indicated that the mobilization would remain in effect “until I determine that conditions of law and order have been restored in the District of Columbia.”