Federal troops are now patrolling the streets of Washington D.C. with their weapons ready. This big change comes as part of President Donald Trump’s push to get tough on crime. It marks a clear escalation in how federal forces are being used in the nation’s capital.
Officials say the National Guard began carrying firearms on Sunday, August 24. Some troops now have M17 pistols or M4 rifles. It’s not clear exactly how many personnel are currently authorized to be armed. For two weeks before this, hundreds of National Guard members had been on duty without weapons. Their presence followed Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency in Washington. Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave the approval for the troops to carry weapons.
The Joint Task Force-DC, which oversees the deployment, made it clear that force should be a last resort. They stated that weapons should only be used to stop threats to life or to prevent serious injuries. This guideline aims to control how the armed forces operate in a civilian setting.
President Trump has suggested these tactics might spread to other major cities. He mentioned Chicago as a possible next target for a similar crackdown. He also said he might send troops into Baltimore, Maryland. This idea of federal intervention in local policing has sparked a heated debate.
Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, quickly spoke out against Trump’s plans. Jeffries argued that the President does not have the legal power to send troops into Chicago. He also accused Trump of “creating a false crisis” regarding crime levels in these cities. Jeffries pointed out that crime rates, including murders, were actually down in Chicago compared to the previous year. Baltimore also saw a double-digit drop in gun violence. The city recorded 84 murders this year, its lowest number in over 50 years.
Unnamed U.S. defense officials confirmed that initial plans were ready in case Trump asked for troops in Chicago. However, they said no official order has been given yet. Trump, meanwhile, criticized Maryland Governor Wes Moore for not handling crime effectively. He stated he was ready to send troops to “clean up” Baltimore, much like he claimed to have done in Washington D. While Trump insists federal agents made Washington crime-free, official records show crime rates were already trending downwards before federal help arrived.
The President’s actions rely on a federal law known as Title 10 of the United States Code. This law outlines the role of the U.S. military. It includes provisions that allow a president to deploy the National Guard to fight invasions, put down rebellions, or enforce laws. Trump cited Section 12406 of this same code earlier this year. He used it to send National Guard units to California to counter protests, even though Governor Gavin Newsom opposed the move.
Source: Reuters