National Guard Patrols in Washington, D.C. Now Authorized to Carry Firearms in Trump’s Crime Crackdown

Members of the Ohio National Guard wear sidearms while patrolling the Logan Circle neighborhood in Washington DC on August 24, 2025 (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C., will begin carrying firearms starting Sunday evening, escalating President Donald Trump’s controversial crime reduction strategy in the nation’s capital. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the order, authorizing approximately 2,000 Guard members to carry service-issued M17 pistols and, in some cases, M4 rifles for self-protection and as a last resort in response to imminent threats, according to a Defense Department official.

The decision marks a significant shift from earlier Pentagon guidance, which stated that Guard members would remain unarmed while supporting law enforcement with tasks like crowd management, perimeter control, and traffic support. The troops, primarily from Republican-led states including West Virginia, South Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee, are part of a deployment of over 2,200 soldiers and airmen aimed at addressing what Trump describes as rampant crime and homelessness in D.C.

President Trump announced the mobilization of 800 D.C. National Guard members earlier this month, later bolstered by additional troops from six Republican governors, to assist federal and local law enforcement in patrolling areas like the National Mall and Union Station. The White House claims the Guard’s visible presence deters crime and protects federal assets, though troops are not currently making arrests. A Joint Task Force spokesperson emphasized that the use of force is permitted only in response to an “imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm.”

Critics, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, have condemned the deployment as an overreach of federal power, arguing that violent crime in the city has dropped 26% since last year, reaching a 30-year low. Bowser called the presence of armed troops an “authoritarian push” and expressed concerns about an “armed militia” in the capital. A Washington Post/Schar School poll found nearly 80% of D.C. residents oppose the deployment and federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department.

The move has sparked protests, with demonstrators in Dupont Circle decrying what they call a “fascist takeover” of the city. Critics, including civil rights leaders like Rev. Al Sharpton, argue the deployment is politically motivated, targeting Democratic-led cities and potentially profiling communities of color. Some residents, however, support the increased presence, citing perceptions of enhanced safety in tourist-heavy areas.

Trump’s strategy, which includes temporary federal control of D.C.’s police under the Home Rule Act, has led to over 700 arrests since August 7, including 135 undocumented immigrants and the seizure of 91 illegal firearms, according to Attorney General Pam Bondi. The administration has signaled plans to expand similar operations to cities like Chicago and New York, raising concerns about the militarization of urban policing.

Legal experts warn that the use of Title 32 status, which allows National Guard troops to operate under state governors’ command, may exploit a loophole in the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts federal military involvement in domestic law enforcement. A federal judge in San Francisco is reviewing whether Trump’s similar deployment in Los Angeles violated legal boundaries.

As the National Guard’s role evolves, with some units now armed, questions remain about the long-term implications of Trump’s crime crackdown and its impact on D.C.’s autonomy. The federal takeover of the police is set to expire in 30 days unless extended by Congress, with Trump indicating he may seek a longer-term federal control of the city’s law enforcement.