WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said Tuesday that all National Guard members deployed in Washington, D.C., are now carrying live weapons and have begun joint patrols with the city’s police department, a shift in the rules governing their domestic deployment.
“I can confirm that everybody in DC is now armed, and a lot of our DC national guardsmen are now also doing joint patrols with members of the police department here in DC,” Defense Department press secretary Kingsley Wilson said at a press conference.
The move follows last week’s ambush shooting near the White House that left one guard member dead and another critically injured. The Trump administration has ordered hundreds of additional troops to the city in response. The Washington Post first reported an internal email referencing joint patrols with the Metropolitan Police Department.
Wilson described the expanded role as a reaction to an “urgent threat” to American cities. “We are keeping American cities safe all across this country, and we are going to remain committed to that,” he said. He added that similar missions would continue in Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities.
Arming all 2,375 troops currently in the capital — with 500 more ordered — represents a significant escalation in domestic engagement protocols. While all Army National Guard soldiers complete basic weapons training, proficiency levels vary by unit type, raising concerns about readiness for civil law enforcement operations.
A recent court order finding the D.C. deployment unlawful remains on hold as the Trump administration appeals. The Joint Task Force overseeing the deployment said all service members are trained and qualified on assigned weapons. A spokesperson said guardsmen have been armed since August 2025 “in support of civil authorities” and in accordance with mission requirements and use-of-force rules.
Last week’s shooting near the Farragut West Metro station killed 20-year-old Sarah Beckstrom and critically injured 24-year-old Andrew Wolfe. The suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, is facing upgraded first-degree murder charges.
Following the incident, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended the processing of immigration requests for Afghan nationals, and DHS said it is expanding its review to include asylum cases approved under the Biden administration.
