Despite previous promises from officials that they would stay unarmed, National Guard members in Washington, D.C., have been told to get ready for the possibility of carrying guns in the nation’s capital, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
The D.C. Army National Guard informed Newsweek that Guard personnel may carry weapons in accordance with their training and purpose when contacted for comment.
For more inquiries, the Pentagon directed Newsweek to the Washington Guard. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office, meanwhile, stated it had no comment at this time.
Why It Matters
800 National Guard members were ordered by President Donald Trump to deploy to Washington; the first troops arrived on Tuesday. Despite data showing crime rates at a 30-year low, the move is intended to reduce crime in the city. Opponents contend that it is among the most forceful federal involvements in local law enforcement in recent memory.
The order has caused controversy because it circumvented elected officials in D.C., who characterized Trump’s action as risky, unheard of, and disturbing.
To prevent the administration from seizing control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), city officials have launched a lawsuit. According to the Associated Press, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi responded by issuing a memo directing the MPD to collaborate with federal immigration enforcement while confirming that the existing police chief will continue to hold the position.
What to Know
The National Guard will not be armed, according to earlier statements from officials, and those who are now on patrol in the city are unarmed.
But according to the Journal, troops were instructed Friday night to get ready for a directive to carry firearms. No formal order has been issued as of Saturday afternoon.
Although he stressed that they would not be making arrests, a White House official told the Journal that additional troops would be sent to D.C., some of whom might be armed.
In a news release issued on Thursday, the Army emphasized the same theme, stating that troops were stationed to maintain a visible presence in strategic public spaces, acting as a visual deterrence to crime.
According to the Army, they will not make arrests, conduct searches, or interfere with law enforcement. They have the power to temporarily hold people in order to protect them from immediate danger, even if they won’t make arrests. They will make sure that custody is quickly turned over to law enforcement.
The Army added that body armor and other protective gear were provided to the troops and that, barring unforeseen events, the weapons would stay in the armory. The Army also stated that when circumstances change, future requirements would be reevaluated.
Tensions between D.C. leaders and federal authorities have increased as a result of the changing position.
“Unfortunately, the D.C. Attorney General continues to oppose our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, D.C.,” Bondi said in her notice on Friday, criticizing local resistance and drawing a comparison with Mayor Bowser’s dedication to public safety.
What People Are Saying
In accordance with their mission and training, the National Guard may be armed to safeguard federal assets, offer a secure environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and discourage violent crime by maintaining a visible law enforcement presence, a White House official told Newsweek. The National Guard is not currently making arrests.
The D.C. Army National Guard spokesperson, Captain Tinashe T. Machona, also stated that guard personnel may carry weapons appropriate to their training and duty. Supporting civic authorities and maintaining community safety are the main goals of their participation. When called upon, the D.C. National Guard is still dedicated to supporting the District of Columbia and helping its citizens and guests.
Additionally, Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted on X on Friday: Regardless of any policies MPD may have, I have just given Mayor Bowser a new directive requiring MPD to provide the services determined necessary by my designee, DEA Administrator Terry Cole, in order to fully and completely comply with federal immigration law and authorities.
Sadly, the D.C. Attorney General still opposes our attempts to make Washington, DC, a safer place, she added. It’s crucial to remember that the Attorney General of D.C. is also accountable for the failure to enforce penalties for dangerous young offenders. As Mayor Bowser is devoted to protecting the safety of citizens, employees, and tourists in Washington, D.C., we will continue to work closely with him.
This week, Mayor Bowser sent out an open letter to the citizens, saying:
The increase in federal law enforcement in D.C. over the past week has caused waves of concern. Although our autonomy has been tested in the past, our limited self-government has never been put to the kind of test we are currently facing. I was born a year after Home Rule was enacted. I have a lot of tasks at the moment. Just guiding us through this situation and ensuring that our government keeps running in a way that makes the people of D.C. proud is a part of my job.
After a day in court, Pamela Smith is still in charge of the city’s 3,100 officers as Chief of Police, she added. “I am extremely proud of how the chief has handled this experience,” she said.
Bowser said, “I am confident that if we continue to stand together, we will overcome this, we will inspire pride in future generations of Washingtonians, and we will demonstrate to the entire country what it means to defend American democracy even when we do not have complete access to it.”
