National Guard troops are now being armed with the Army’s latest sidearm as they patrol the streets of Washington, D.C., as part of President Trump’s crackdown on crime in the nation’s capital.
A statement Sunday from the Joint Task Force-DC, which has taken over policing in the nation’s capital, said units began carrying their service weapons Sunday.
According to the Associated Press, members of the South Carolina National Guard were seen outside Union Station with holstered handguns.
The practice makes good on a directive issued Saturday by Army Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard III, the interim commander general of the D.C. National Guard.
The general gave the order for military personnel supporting Joint Task Force-DC to begin carrying M17 pistols as their service-issued weapons.
The SIG Sauer M17 is a 9mm handgun that has served as the official sidearm of the U.S. military since 2017, when it replaced the Beretta M9.
The arming order comes at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and in coordination with the DC’s Metropolitan Police Department and federal law enforcement partners.
The decision was made after careful consideration of the security environment, National Guard officials said.
“This decision is not something taken lightly,” Gen. Blanchard said. “We are in coordination with our law enforcement partners, and all appropriate review processes are in place.”
A Defense Department official told AP on condition of anonymity that some units will carry rifles. The spokesperson said that all such units are operating under strict rules for use of force.
The sidearms are strictly for personal protection.
The president directly commands the D.C. National Guard, the only Guard force not under the authority of a state or territory governor.
The Joint Task Force-District of Columbia mission operates under Title 32 status, meaning the troops are under state command but federally funded.
Unlike active-duty troops on Title 10 status, National Guard personnel aren’t bound by the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts the use of the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement purposes.
“Our task force members incorporate de-escalation techniques within the D.C. National Guard rules for the use of force,” said Col. Larry Doane, commander of Joint Task Force-DC. “Incorporating all of these measures ensures they are fully prepared to support law enforcement and safeguard the residents of Washington, D.C.,” he said.
About 2,270 National Guard troops have been assigned to the mission in D.C. That number includes those from other states, including West Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee.