Defense Secretary Hegseth Authorizes 2,000 Armed National Guard Troops in Washington DC

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized nearly 2,000 National Guard troops deployed to Washington, D.C., to carry weapons if their mission requires it, potentially expanding their role into high-crime neighborhoods. This move is part of the Trump administration's intensified effort to combat crime in the capital, following President Trump’s declaration that crime was "out of control" and his unprecedented federal takeover of D.C. police operations. Trump visited Guard personnel, urging them to be strong and do whatever it takes to fulfill their duties, and suggested the troops could remain for six months or longer as part of a broader plan for urban renewal. The troops, drawn from the District and six Republican-led states, have so far been stationed mainly in tourist areas, but the new authorization allows for more proactive and armed patrols. Local leaders, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, have criticized the federal intervention, calling the deployment an "armed militia" despite reported declines in violent crime. The Pentagon has not issued an immediate comment on the expanded authorization.