Military personnel stationed in Washington D.C. might carry weapons, according to the White House.
In the past week, federal authorities have made 166 arrests in Washington, D.C., according to FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson. This surge in arrests comes after President Donald Trump declared a public safety emergency in the city and placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control.
The National Guard, deployed to Washington, D.C. on Monday, numbers 800 strong. Initially, they were unarmed, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later authorized their arming to enhance security and law enforcement presence amid rising crime concerns, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The National Guard's mission in Washington, D.C. is to help reestablish law, order, and public safety. They are focused on supporting civil authorities, ensuring the safety of the community they serve, and providing a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests.
The National Guard's presence is not for making arrests at this time. However, they may be armed, with the Army issuing a statement earlier this week that the Guard would be equipped with personal protective equipment, including body armor.
The National Guard's mission also involves deterring violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence. West Virginia's Republican governor announced the deployment of about 300 to 400 of the state's National Guard members to Washington, D.C., adding to the federal force.
The National Guard of the United States is the armed militia force of the United States federal government. Their involvement in Washington, D.C. is part of a broader federal intervention involving FBI, DEA, and ICE agents to increase law enforcement activities, including checkpoints, arrests, and immigration sweeps, primarily in high-crime neighbourhoods.
This deployment and arming of the National Guard have been controversial, with local leaders and civil rights groups criticizing it as an overreach and an abuse of power under a disputed emergency rationale. Some D.C. residents are also protesting against the increased law enforcement presence in the city.
Earlier statements from the U.S. Army indicated that weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory. However, a shift in this policy has been reported, with National Guard soldiers in D.C. preparing to start carrying weapons in the coming days.
In 2024, violent crime in Washington, D.C. hit its lowest level in more than 30 years, according to the Justice Department. Yet, President Trump's declaration of a public safety emergency and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard suggest that crime concerns remain a significant issue in the city.
References: 1. Associated Press 2. The Wall Street Journal 3. CNN
- The National Guard's mission in Washington, D.C. includes reestablishing law and order, primarily in high-crime neighborhoods, with a visible law enforcement presence and potential deployment of weapons in response to rising crime concerns.
- The federal intervention in Washington, D.C. involves not only the National Guard but also FBI, DEA, and ICE agents, increasing law enforcement activities through checkpoints, arrests, and immigration sweeps.
- Despite a significant decrease in crime rates in 2024, as reported by the Justice Department, President Trump's declaration of a public safety emergency and the deployment of the National Guard indicate that crime concerns continue to be a prominent issue in the city.
- The deployment and arming of the National Guard has been a subject of controversy, with local leaders, civil rights groups, and some D.C. residents criticizing it as an overreach and an abuse of power under a disputed emergency rationale.
