Pentagon approves National Guard to carry weapons in D.C. as federal takeover extends
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the thousands of National Guard troops deployed to the District of Columbia to carry their weapons as they patrol the city, the Pentagon said Friday.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he is considering declaring a “national emergency” to keep troops in the nation’s capital for longer than the 30 days allowed under the law, and also said he’s eyeing the Democratic-led cities of Chicago, New York and San Francisco for additional military deployments.
Carrying weapons would be a significant escalation in the show of force for the troops in the district.
Pete Hegseth - Public Domain
“At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, (Guard) members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our Nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training,” a Defense Department official said in a statement to States Newsroom.
The final decision will be made by Brigadier General Leland Blanchard II, who is the interim commanding general of the D.C. National Guard, and any coordination will occur with D.C. Metropolitan Police and federal law enforcement, the Defense Department official said.
There are 800 D.C. National Guard members now in the district, joined by more than 1,260 members from six GOP states called to assist Trump’s federal takeover of the 62 square miles of the district that is home to 700,000 residents.
National Guard members from the Republican-led states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia began arriving in the district this week.
It’s unclear if the 2,060 National Guard members will carry their “service-issued weapons” while on duty.
The change comes days before students in the district return to school.
The Pentagon did not respond to States Newsroom’s question on what type of weapons the National Guard members would be carrying, such as rifles or hand guns.
Typically a standard-issue weapon for most of the U.S. military is a M4 assault rifle, which is a variant of the AR-15.
More cities for military force
The president told reporters Friday in the Oval Office that Chicago, New York and San Francisco could be next for military deployment, similar to the federal takeover of the district.
“After we do this, we’ll go to another location and we’ll make it safe also,” Trump said. “Chicago is a mess…And we’ll straighten that one out probably next. That’ll be our next one after this.”
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Because the district is not a state, the president has the sole authority over its National Guard members.
State governors have control over their National Guard members, but the president earlier this summer federalized California’s National Guard to respond to immigration protests — a test case for use of the state-based military forces. The Guard has since left Los Angeles.
Trump declared a “crime emergency” in the district August 11, even though violent crime in the district is at a 30-year low.
The president also invoked the district’s Home Rule Act in order to use the Metropolitan Police Department’s 3,400-member police force for immigration enforcement.
National Guard troops have been sent to patrol Metro stations, the tourist-heavy National Mall and near federal buildings across the district.
“The D.C. National Guard remains committed to safeguarding the District of Columbia and serving those who live, work, and visit the District,” the Department of Defense official said.
Potential Trump declaration of ‘national emergency’
It’s unclear how long the National Guard will remain in the district and the president Friday said he is considering declaring a “national emergency” to keep troops in the nation’s capital.
Troops are currently staying in local hotels around the district, according to a Joint Task Force-District of Columbia spokesperson.
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“If I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops there as long as I want,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Earlier Friday, Trump had said he was unsure of how long he would keep National Guard members in the district.
“The big question is how long do we stay? Because we want to make sure it doesn’t come back,” Trump said at another back-and-forth with reporters. “So we have to take care of these criminals and get them out.”
Thursday, Trump visited a U.S. Park Police facility in a district neighborhood known as Anacostia, where he addressed local and federal law enforcement officials as well as National Guard members.
“You’re incredible people,” Trump said. “You make the country run.”
He thanked them for their service and had White House officials hand out hamburgers he said were cooked at the White House and pizza from a local restaurant.
Louisiana Illuminator Reporter Wes Muller contributed to this story.
