<h2 class="topline-heading">Topline</h2><p>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the National Guard to carry weapons as they patrol Washington, D.C., representing the latest escalation of the Trump administration’s show of force in the capital. </p><figure class="embed-base image-embed embed-0" role="presentation"><div class="image-embed__placeholder"><img src="https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/68a8a93f1e7a85e30b21e8da/Washington-sees-increased-guard-presence/960x0.jpg?cropX1=0&amp;cropX2=2184&amp;cropY1=110&amp;cropY2=1338" alt="Washington sees increased guard presence" width="100%" height="auto"></div><div style="--article-bg-color:#faf3f1"><div class="bMqrj"><div class="Jp--BF7-"><span style="-webkit-line-clamp:2" class="Ccg9Ib-7 _8XF2kHYM">National Guard troops patrol around Union Station and the National Mall as part of ongoing security measures in the U.S. capital Washington, D.C. on August 21, 2025. (Photo by Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu via Getty Images)</span></div><small class="pGGCM2aD">Anadolu via Getty Images</small></div></div></figure>

<div class="key-facts-element"><p>Hegseth’s order is expected to be implemented in the coming days, <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/defense-secretary-hegseth-authorizes-2k-national-guard-troops/story?id=124876085" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/defense-secretary-hegseth-authorizes-2k-national-guard-troops/story?id=124876085" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/defense-secretary-hegseth-authorizes-2k-national-guard-troops/story?id=124876085" aria-label="multiple">multiple</a> <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/22/politics/hegseth-orders-national-guard-troops-dc-carry-weapons" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/22/politics/hegseth-orders-national-guard-troops-dc-carry-weapons" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/22/politics/hegseth-orders-national-guard-troops-dc-carry-weapons" aria-label="outlets">outlets</a> reported.</p></div>

<em>This is a developing story and will be updated.</em>

Nearly 2,000 National Guard troops have been deployed to Washington as part of President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown in the city.{ai:summary}<p>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the National Guard to carry weapons while patrolling Washington, D.C.</p><p>The order, to be implemented in coming days, aims to bolster security around Union Station and the National Mall. #military</p>

National Guard Authorized To Carry Weapons In D.C.

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