It’s just being reported by Fox News Pentagon Producer Liz Friden that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has given his authorization that both National Guard soldiers and Airmen in Washington, D.C. can carry weapons if their mission requires it.
She writes that they may not all be armed – it depends on the mission – and they cannot arrest people. However, they can detain and transfer custody to law enforcement.
Here’s what she wrote:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized the almost 2,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen in Washington DC to carry weapons if their mission requires it, a U.S. official tells Fox News. Members of the National Guard could start to carry weapons in coming days.
— Liz Friden (@Liz_Friden) August 22, 2025
This does not mean all of the National Guard members will be armed, it depends on if they need weapons for the individual mission they are tasked with, the official emphasized. The weapons each soldier carries depends on what they are trained and qualified on.
— Liz Friden (@Liz_Friden) August 22, 2025
The National Guard still will not be able to make arrests. They will still be under orders to temporarily detain people if needed if law enforcement is not present, then transfer custody back to law enforcement as soon as possible.
— Liz Friden (@Liz_Friden) August 22, 2025