National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C., have been instructed to prepare to carry weapons—despite earlier promises from officials that the troops would remain unarmed—according to a report published Saturday by The Wall Street Journal.
The deployment of 800 troops, ordered by President Donald Trump, began on Tuesday. Although the city is experiencing its lowest crime rates in three decades, the move marks one of the most forceful federal interventions in local law enforcement in recent history.
The federal involvement has sparked legal pushback. Washington officials have filed a lawsuit attempting to block what they see as a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In response, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo stating that the city’s police chief would remain in charge but that the MPD must cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agencies, according to the Associated Press.
Initially, federal officials emphasized that National Guard troops would not be armed. Troops already present in the city have been patrolling without carrying weapons. However, the Journal reports that on Friday evening, Guard members were told to be ready to carry arms, though no official order has been given as of Saturday afternoon.
A White House official confirmed to the Journal that more troops could be sent to the capital and that they may be armed, but clarified that these troops would not engage in arrests.
In a press release Thursday, the Army underscored that the National Guard presence was intended as a “visible deterrent” and not a policing force. Troops would wear protective gear such as body armor and have access to weapons “if needed,” though those weapons would remain secured in an armory unless circumstances change.
“They will not arrest, search, or direct law enforcement,” the Army stated. “They may temporarily detain individuals only to prevent imminent harm, with law enforcement authorities assuming custody immediately.”
The evolving nature of the deployment underscores growing tensions between the federal government and D.C. leadership. In her Friday memo, Bondi criticized city officials for resisting federal efforts to address public safety, praising D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for her cooperation, while singling out the D.C. Attorney General for continued opposition.