National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., have been armed with service weapons under President Trump’s anti-crime directive.
National Guard troops patrolling Washington, D.C., are now armed with military-issued sidearms as part of President Trump’s crackdown on crime in the capital.
The Joint Task Force-DC announced Sunday that Guard units began carrying M17 pistols, the Army’s standard 9mm handgun since 2017. Members of the South Carolina National Guard were seen stationed outside Union Station with holstered weapons, according to the Associated Press.
“This decision is not something taken lightly,” said Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard III, interim commander of the D.C. Guard. “We are in coordination with our law enforcement partners, and all appropriate review processes are in place.”
Officials confirmed that some units will also carry rifles under strict use-of-force rules. About 2,270 troops from multiple states have been assigned to the mission. Defense officials said the weapons are for self-protection only.
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