The US National Guard troops deployed in Washington D.C. will start carrying weapons from Sunday night. This decision comes as part of the US government’s effort to control rising crime in the capital.
Officials said the National Guard personnel will be armed with either M17 pistols or M4 rifles. The exact number of armed troops remains flexible. These officials spoke on condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.
For two weeks, hundreds of unarmed National Guard troops have been on the streets after President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently approved the troops to carry weapons for increased security.
The Guard’s Joint Task Force in Washington said force will only be used as a last resort and in response to an imminent threat of serious harm or death.
Meanwhile, President Trump hinted he might expand this security approach to other US cities like Chicago and Baltimore. Both cities are led by Democratic officials, and Trump has criticized their handling of crime.
However, Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, rejected Trump’s plans. Jeffries said Trump does not have the authority to send federal troops to Chicago. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Maryland Governor Wes Moore also stated there was no emergency requiring troop deployment.
The US President claimed that the National Guard presence has helped reduce crime in Washington. But official data shows that crime rates have actually dropped over the past year, even before the troops arrived.
The US government may face legal challenges if troops are deployed to other cities without local consent. Federal law limits when and how the military can be used domestically.
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