Trump administration authorizes National Guard to carry guns

National Guard members in Washington, D.C., will start carrying service weapons while they continue helping local law enforcement quell crime. Reports emerged Friday morning that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the order to arm National Guardsmen. Members will have service-issued weapons that align with their mission and training, a defense official told WORLD. The interim commanding general of the D.C. National Guard has the authority to make any necessary force adjustments while coordinating with the D.C. Metro Police and other federal partners, the official added.

The Pentagon did not provide a reason for the escalation. The same morning, President Donald Trump shared his desire to launch a similar cleanup in other major cities, naming Chicago and New York. He wanted to make American cities safe and Chicago should be next, he told reporters on Friday.

How is the D.C. cleanup going? Hegseth visited National Guardsmen Wednesday with Vice President J.D. Vance, who reported that the city had seen a 35% reduction in violent crime since the National Guard was deployed. D.C. also saw a 50% drop in robberies, Vance added. Trump visited National Guardsmen on Thursday and praised their work. He described the nation’s capital as transformed since he deployed the National Guard to quell crime and clean up the streets. Trump described receiving a swath of positive feedback from locals who feel more willing to go out in the city. The administration also planned to redo public parks with grass that would rival professional golf courses, he added.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report for more about what the National Guard is doing in the city.