By — Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/national-guard-members-on-dc-streets-for-trumps-crackdown-will-soon-be-armed-military-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter National Guard members on DC streets for Trump’s crackdown will soon be armed, military says Politics Updated on Aug 22, 2025 11:11 AM EDT — Published on Aug 22, 2025 11:01 AM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that National Guard troops patrolling the streets of Washington for President Donald Trump’s law enforcement crackdown will be armed, the Pentagon said Friday. The Defense Department didn’t immediately offer any other details about the new development or why it was needed. The step is a escalation in Trump’s intervention into policing in the nation’s capital and comes as nearly 2,000 National Guard members are stationed in the city, with the arrival this week of hundreds of troops from several Republican-led states. The Pentagon and Army said last week that troops would not carry weapons. The city had been informed about the intent for the National Guard to be armed, a person familiar with the conversations said earlier this week. The person was not authorized to disclose the plans and spoke on the condition of anonymity. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered that National Guard troops patrolling the streets of Washington for President Donald Trump’s law enforcement crackdown will be armed, the Pentagon said Friday. The Defense Department didn’t immediately offer any other details about the new development or why it was needed. The step is a escalation in Trump’s intervention into policing in the nation’s capital and comes as nearly 2,000 National Guard members are stationed in the city, with the arrival this week of hundreds of troops from several Republican-led states. The Pentagon and Army said last week that troops would not carry weapons. The city had been informed about the intent for the National Guard to be armed, a person familiar with the conversations said earlier this week. The person was not authorized to disclose the plans and spoke on the condition of anonymity. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now