National Guard to Start Carrying Weapons in DC

National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., have been told they should prepare to carry weapons in the nation’s capital despite previous assurances from officials that the troops would not be armed, according to a Saturday report by The Wall Street Journal.

President Donald Trump ordered 800 National Guard troops to deploy to Washington, with the troops arriving on Tuesday. The deployment aims to combat crime in the city, even as crime rates have reached a 30-year low, marking one of the most aggressive federal interventions in local law enforcement in recent history.

Washington officials sued the administration to block the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), which prompted U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to issue a memo that leaves the current police chief in charge of the department but also directs the police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, the Associated Press reported.

Administration officials had previously said the National Guard would not carry weapons, and troops who have already made the rounds on patrol around the city have done so without carrying them.

The Journal, citing people familiar with the plan, reported on Saturday that those troops were told on Friday evening they should expect an order to carry weapons. As of Saturday afternoon, no formal order had been issued.

A White House official told the Journal that additional troops may be called to D.C., and they may be armed, but they would not be making any arrests.

The Army had stressed the lack of weapons in a press release issued Thursday, writing that the troops were deployed to “provide a visible presence in key public areas, serving as a visible crime deterrent.”

“They will not arrest, search, or direct law enforcement,” the Army wrote. “While they will not conduct arrests, they have the authority to temporarily detain individuals to prevent imminent harm, ensuring that custody is promptly transferred to law enforcement authorities.”

Most notably, the Army wrote that the troops would be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), including body armor, and that “weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory,” while noting that “future requirements will be assessed and determined based on the evolving needs of the supported law enforcement agencies.”

The shifting framework highlights the tension in the capital and the unease between the administration and local officials.

Bondi in her Friday notice wrote of the responses from Washington officials, saying that “unfortunately, the D.C. Attorney General continues to oppose our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, D.C.,” in contrast to Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, “who is dedicated to ensuring the safety of residents, workers, and visitors in Washington, D.C.”