U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard troops deployed in Washington, DC, to be armed, marking a major shift in the Trump administration’s controversial crime crackdown in the capital.
President Donald Trump first ordered troops into Washington earlier this month, taking control of the city’s police force to combat what he called “out of control” crime. The deployment currently numbers around 2,000 soldiers.
Until now, National Guard troops had been stationed unarmed at high-profile locations such as the National Mall and Union Station, while local police and federal officers handled law enforcement operations. The Pentagon had previously stated that troops would not carry weapons.
In its statement on Friday, the Pentagon said National Guard personnel “will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training.” It remains unclear whether arming the soldiers signals a change in their role.
Trump Declares “Total Safety”
Speaking from the White House, Trump hailed the deployment as a success, claiming it had brought “total safety” to the capital.
“DC was a hellhole, but now it’s safe,” Trump said, adding that he is considering expanding the mission to Chicago, another Democratic-run city that has clashed with his administration.
However, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the idea, describing any such deployment as “uncoordinated, uncalled for, and unsound.” He warned that the use of troops could inflame tensions between communities and law enforcement, undermining progress made in reducing crime.
Pushback From Residents and Officials
The decision to deploy and now arm the National Guard remains deeply unpopular among Washington residents. A recent Washington Post/Schar School poll found that nearly 80% of locals oppose both the deployment of federal forces and Trump’s takeover of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has not yet commented on the decision, though she previously pointed to a “huge decrease in crime” in the city, claiming it had reached a 30-year low.
Nationwide Expansion
According to U.S. media, as many as 1,700 National Guardsmen are expected to mobilize across 19 states in the coming weeks, with Texas receiving the largest share. The forces will support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations and serve as a visible deterrent.
Several Republican-led states, including South Carolina and West Virginia, have already contributed forces to Washington’s mission.
The Justice Department has reported more than 700 arrests linked to the crackdown so far, including 40 in a single day this week, along with the seizure of 91 illegal firearms.
National Emergency Threat
Despite declaring the Washington operation a success, Trump warned that once the deployment’s initial 30-day deadline expires, he may declare a national emergency to keep troops in the city indefinitely.
“If I have a national emergency, I can keep the troops here as long as I want,” the president said.
Trump has also pledged to ask Congress for $2 billion in new funding to “beautify” Washington, after Congress previously slashed the city’s budget by $1.1 billion earlier this year.
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