US National Guard troops stationed in Washington, DC, under President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown initiative will begin carrying weapons starting Sunday night, according to officials familiar with the decision. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, noted that the number of armed personnel would remain flexible. Those equipped will carry either M17 pistols or M4 rifles, marking a shift from the hundreds of unarmed Guard members who have been patrolling the capital’s streets for the past two weeks.
The decision follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s authorization last week permitting Guard troops to carry weapons. In a statement issued Sunday, the Guard’s Joint Task Force-DC emphasized that personnel would employ force only as a last resort and strictly in response to imminent threats of death or serious bodily harm. This escalation underscores Trump’s commitment to portraying his administration as tough on crime, even as official data indicates that crime in Washington has been declining.
Trump has also signaled plans to extend his crackdown beyond the capital. He floated the possibility of deploying troops to Chicago and Baltimore, two major cities governed by Democrats, which he frequently criticizes over crime levels. On Sunday, he claimed that his interventions had already curbed crime in Washington, declaring without evidence that the capital was now free of crime thanks to his deployment of federal and military resources.
In Chicago, the Pentagon has begun preliminary planning to consider what a deployment of National Guard troops would look like if requested. Officials stressed that such planning is routine, meant to anticipate possible presidential directives, and that senior Pentagon leaders have not yet been briefed. Trump’s critics, however, view the move as politically motivated. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said on CNN that Trump lacks authority to unilaterally deploy troops to Chicago, arguing that crime there has actually declined in the past year. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has also dismissed the idea, stating there is no emergency requiring National Guard deployment.
Trump leveled similar criticisms at Maryland Governor Wes Moore, pointing to Baltimore’s crime record. Despite Baltimore police data showing a double-digit reduction in gun violence this year and the city recording its lowest homicide numbers in over five decades, Trump suggested he would send troops if Moore “needed help,” claiming the move would quickly clean up the city. Baltimore officials, however, have emphasized that progress is already being made without federal intervention.
The legality of Trump’s proposed deployments remains a contentious issue. While he holds broader authority over Washington, DC, as it is not a state, his power over states like Illinois and Maryland is far more limited. Trump has previously cited Section 12406 of Title 10 of the US Code, which allows the president to deploy National Guard units to repel invasions, suppress rebellions, or enforce federal law. He invoked this provision earlier in the year when dispatching troops to California against the objections of Governor Gavin Newsom, citing protests that disrupted state operations.
In the case of Chicago, Trump may attempt to argue that the city’s sanctuary laws, which restrict cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, obstruct his ability to execute federal law, thereby justifying a military presence. Nevertheless, any such action is expected to trigger immediate legal challenges, as critics argue it would amount to a political stunt rather than a justified emergency measure.
The debate underscores the fraught balance between federal authority and state sovereignty, particularly when it comes to deploying military forces on domestic soil. Trump’s moves, seen by supporters as decisive action against crime and by opponents as authoritarian overreach, are likely to remain a flashpoint as discussions over public safety, politics, and presidential power continue.
