FROM WASHINGTON EXAMINER: National Guard troops patrolling Washington, D.C., at the direction of President Donald Trump began carrying service weapons as of Sunday evening.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized members of the National Guard to carry weapons on Friday, but he did not give specifics on how often or how many service members would be armed. The direction marks a shift in tone for the National Guard members, who have mostly been aiding law enforcement with community safety patrols, traffic control, and crowd flow.
The majority of the guard members will carry M17 pistols, their service-issued weapons, and a small number of troops will be armed with their service M4 rifles, according to NBC News. Troops have been authorized to use their weapons for self-protection and “as a last resort” in response to an “imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm,” the federal task force said.
Members of the National Guard may only support law enforcement. There are about 1,900 troops in the capital, coming from Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
National Guard troops are now carrying weapons to patrol Washington, D.C., and President Trump is looking to continue the effort in other Democratic-led cities. https://t.co/sWz911xe6B pic.twitter.com/8W6mXQEcuk
— USA TODAY Politics (@usatodayDC) August 25, 2025
BREAKING: National Guard troops in D.C. to begin carrying weapons tonight, including rifles, a Defense Department official said. https://t.co/nFcku7UAP4
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 24, 2025
The information listed is from WashingtonExaminer.
