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By Peter Aitken
Politics Weekend Editor
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National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., have been told they should prepare to carry weapons in the nation's capital despite previous assurances from officials that the troops would not be armed, according to a Saturday report by The Wall Street Journal.
When reached for comment, the D.C. Army National Guard told Newsweek that "Guard members may be armed consistent with their mission and training."
The Pentagon directed Newsweek to speak with the Washington Guard when reached by email for comment. Meanwhile, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's office told Newsweek it had no comment at this time.
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Why It Matters
President Donald Trump ordered 800 National Guard troops to deploy to Washington, with the troops arriving on Tuesday. The deployment aims to combat crime in the city, even as crime rates have reached a 30-year low, marking one of the most aggressive federal interventions in local law enforcement in recent history.
The deployment has prompted strong backlash due to the fact the administration bypassed the city's elected leaders, who have variously described Trump's directive as "unsettling," "unprecedented" and "dangerous."
Washington officials sued the administration to block the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), which prompted U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to issue a memo that leaves the current police chief in charge of the department but also directs the police to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, the Associated Press reported.
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What To Know
Administration officials had previously said the National Guard would not carry weapons, and troops who have already made the rounds on patrol around the city have done so without carrying them.
The Journal, citing people familiar with the plan, reported on Saturday that those troops were told on Friday evening they should expect an order to carry weapons. As of Saturday afternoon, no formal order had been issued.
A White House official told the Journal that additional troops may be called to D.C., and they may be armed, but they would not be making any arrests.
The Army had stressed the lack of weapons in a press release issued Thursday, writing that the troops were deployed to "provide a visible presence in key public areas, serving as a visible crime deterrent."
"They will not arrest, search, or direct law enforcement," the Army wrote. "While they will not conduct arrests, they have the authority to temporarily detain individuals to prevent imminent harm, ensuring that custody is promptly transferred to law enforcement authorities."
Most notably, the Army wrote that the troops would be equipped with personal protective equipment (PPE), including body armor, and that "weapons are available if needed but will remain in the armory," while noting that "future requirements will be assessed and determined based on the evolving needs of the supported law enforcement agencies."
The shifting framework highlights the tension in the capital and the unease between the administration and local officials.
Bondi in her Friday notice wrote of the responses from Washington officials, saying that "unfortunately, the D.C. Attorney General continues to oppose our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, D.C.," in contrast to Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, "who is dedicated to ensuring the safety of residents, workers, and visitors in Washington, D.C."
What People Are Saying
A White House official told Newsweek: "The National Guard is not making arrests at this time – they may be armed, consistent with their mission and training, to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence.
Captain Tinashe T. Machona, a spokesperson for the D.C. Army National Guard, told Newsweek in an email statement: "Guard members may be armed consistent with their mission and training. Their presence is focused on supporting civil authorities and ensuring the safety of the community they serve. The DC National Guard remains committed to assisting the District of Columbia and serving its residents and visitors whenever called upon."
U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi on Friday wrote on X: "I have just issued a new directive to Mayor Bowser requiring MPD to provide the services found necessary by my designee, DEA Administrator Terry Cole, to comply fully and completely with federal immigration law and authorities, regardless of any policies MPD might otherwise have."
"Unfortunately, the D.C. Attorney General continues to oppose our efforts to improve public safety in Washington, DC. It is important to note that this same D.C. Attorney General is responsible for failing to enforce consequences for dangerous juvenile offenders," Bondi wrote. "We remain committed to working closely with Mayor Bowser, who is dedicated to ensuring the safety of residents, workers, and visitors in Washington, D.C."
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in an open letter to city residents this week, in part: "...Over the course of a week, the surge in federal law enforcement across D.C. has created waves of anxiety. I was born one year after Home Rule became law, and while our autonomy has been challenged before, our limited self-government has never faced the type of test we are facing right now. My jobs are many right now. Part of my job is just managing us through this crisis and making sure that our government continues to operate in a way that makes DC residents proud."
...In fact, this evening, I am pleased to be able to report that, after a day in court and in accordance with Home rule, Pamela Smith remains our Chief of Police, and command and control of our 3,100 men and women at the Metropolitan Police Department. I am incredibly proud of how the chief has handled this experience."
She concluded: "...I know that if we keep sticking together, we will make it to the other side of this, we will make future generations of Washingtonians proud, we will show the entire nation what it looks like to fight for American democracy—even when we don't have full access to it."
Update 8/17/25, 10:56 a.m. ET: This articles has been updated with additional comment.
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