WASHINGTON – National Guard troops deployed throughout Washington D.C. will now carry their service-issue weapons, a significant shift in protocol that escalates the federal military presence in the nation's capital. The directive, confirmed by officials on Friday, is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to federalize aspects of the city's policing and combat what the President has described as an unacceptable level of crime.

The initial report from Politico on August 22, later confirmed by sources familiar with the order, indicates that Guard members on duty at various checkpoints and patrols across the District will no longer be unarmed or equipped only with non-lethal deterrents. Instead, they will be visibly armed with their standard-issue sidearms and, in some cases, rifles.

This move marks a new phase in President Donald Trump’s deployment of the Guard, which began earlier this summer as a cornerstone of his administration's public safety initiative for Washington. The White House has consistently argued that a more robust federal presence is necessary to restore order and support the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), which they claim is overwhelmed.

A Contentious Federal Intervention

The decision to arm the troops has drawn swift criticism from local D.C. officials and civil liberties advocates, who warn it could foster a climate of fear and unnecessarily militarize the city. For months, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council have voiced strong opposition to the federalization of local law enforcement, arguing it undermines the District's autonomy and is counterproductive to community-based policing efforts.

"Placing armed soldiers on our city's streets is not a substitute for effective, community-trusted law enforcement," a spokesperson for the mayor's office said in a statement. "This is a solution in search of a problem and serves only to heighten tensions between residents and the federal government."

The D.C. National Guard holds a unique position within the United States. Unlike state Guards that report to a governor, the D.C. Guard is under the direct command of the President of the United States. This structure allows the White House to deploy troops within the city's boundaries without local consent, a point of recurring friction between federal and municipal authorities.

Precedent and Public Perception

This is not the first time the National Guard has been a visible presence in the capital. Troops were deployed in large numbers following the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and during the large-scale protests of 2020. However, in those instances, the missions were tied to specific, time-limited emergencies. The current deployment is framed as part of a more open-ended public safety operation.

The administration defends the new directive as a necessary measure for force protection and as a visual deterrent to criminal activity. In a recent statement, President Trump said, "The crowds are coming back, the spirit is high, and our D.C. National Guard are doing their job. They will have what they need to keep our capital safe."

Legal experts note that the deployment, while politically charged, operates within the President's authority over the D.C. Guard. However, watchdog groups and civil rights organizations have raised concerns about the rules of engagement for armed troops performing what are essentially civilian law enforcement duties. They question what level of threat would justify the use of lethal force and how accountability would be handled in such an incident.

As armed troops become a more common sight in the city’s neighborhoods, residents and officials alike are watching closely. The long-term impact of this policy on crime rates, public trust, and the delicate relationship between Washington D.C. and the federal government remains to be seen.