US National Guard members deployed to Washington, DC, started carrying their sidearms on Sunday, a spokesperson for the Joint Task Force carrying out the mission told CNN. This follows a directive by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week that authorized members of the National Guard,

Some National Guard troops deployed in Washington, D.C. under President Donald Trump’s orders have begun carrying firearms.

National Guard members, who began carrying weapons Sunday, have mostly been aiding law enforcement with community safety patrols.