The District of Columbia is a quieter and safer place now than it was a week ago, thanks in no small part to the surge of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops into the city. Homeless encampments have been cleaned up, hundreds of goblins have been arrested, and people can once more walk the streets of our national capital without too much worry about being mugged.
The National Guard, of course, plays a big role in this cleanup. On Friday, in what can only be described as an interesting move, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has authorized 2,000 National Guard troops deployed to the nation's capital to be armed if their mission requires it.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized almost 2,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen to be armed in Washington, D.C. if their mission requires it, a U.S. official confirmed to FOX News.
"At the direction of the Secretary of Defense, JTF-DC members supporting the mission to lower the crime rate in our nation’s capital will soon be on mission with their service-issued weapons, consistent with their mission and training," a U.S. defense official told FOX News.
Service-issued weapons, for most of the troops, will presumably mean either the M4 carbine or a service sidearm, depending on the soldier and their role. The language would appear to preclude anything more substantial, like vehicle-mounted weapons.
The National Guard troops, armed or not, will remain in a support role, not an enforcement role. Their orders, however, do allow them to detain malefactors long enough to turn them over to law enforcement.
"The Interim Commanding General of the D.C. National Guard retains the authority to make any necessary force posture adjustments in coordination with the D.C. Metropolitan Police and Federal law enforcement partners. The D.C. National Guard remains committed to safeguarding the District of Columbia and serving those who live, work, and visit the District," the official added.
The troops could start carrying weapons in the coming days, though they will not be able to make arrests. Additionally, they will still be under orders to temporarily detain people if needed before transferring them to law enforcement as soon as possible.
Regardless of progress made in recent days, the District remains a troubled place. It seems logical that the National Guard troops, who are in the profession of arms even if they do so part-time, should be armed, for self-defense if nothing else. And, we hasten to note, there is a qualifier in the statement: "...if their mission requires it." So far, there is no information on what missions may or may not require the troops to be armed, but it's not an across-the-board issue of weapons for all of the National Guard soldiers.
Read More: Karoline Leavitt Torches 'Mealymouthed' NYT Journo Who Got It Spectacularly Wrong on D.C. Cleanup
We should note, too, that the Trump Administration's efforts in the District have been pretty successful.
MPD released its 2025 Year-to-Date Crime Comparison on Friday, which noted that violent crime in the city has dropped by 27% since 2024, including a 12% decrease in homicides. The city saw an 8% dip in crime over the last year, according to MPD's report.
It's working, but the job isn't done yet.
Editor's Note: The days of lawlessness in Washington, D.C. are over. Thanks to President Trump, our nation's capital will be SAFE once again.
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