National Guard Armed Deployment in DC Intensifies under Trump’s Anti-Crime Agenda

Washington D.C. witnessed National Guard members carrying their sidearms on Sunday, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the task force responsible for the mission. This move comes after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive last week, permitting armed status for National Guard members deployed in support of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting initiative within the capital.

The new guidance signifies a significant change from previous Pentagon stipulations that only allowed armament for National Guard personnel under specific circumstances. Over the weekend, a CNN reporter observed two guard members patrolling The Wharf, a bustling waterfront district, armed with long guns.

Over the past few weeks, President Trump has intensified efforts to combat crime in Washington D.C., which encompasses actions such as federal takeover of the city’s police department and an increase in federal law enforcement presence. Despite repeated criticisms about rising crime rates in the city, data indicates lower crime figures this year compared to 2024.

To reinforce the DC National Guard, more than 1,900 troops from National Guards across West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Ohio, Louisiana, and Tennessee have been mobilized. Troops from GOP-led states began arriving in the capital last week.

In the week commencing August 12—the first full day Trump’s administration assumed control of the Metropolitan Police Department—Washington D.C.’s reported crime rate experienced a moderate decline, and an exceptionally high surge in arrests of immigrants was observed. According to CNN’s analysis of government data, this trend became apparent during that period.